LAKEWOOD, Colo.—May 18, 2010— CaridianBCT, a leading global provider of technology, products and services in the blood banking, transfusion medicine and cell therapy industries, today announced the protocol to perform Red Blood Cell Exchange (RBCX) on the Spectra Optia® Apheresis System is now available for use in Canada.
Red Blood Cell Exchange procedures are prescribed to treat various hematologic, metabolic and infectious diseases, primarily those diseases in which defective or damaged red blood cells play a major role in the pathology. The RBCX protocol supplements the Spectra Optia system's Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) protocol—enabling health care professionals to select the most appropriate, individualized procedures to optimize patient care.
"Delivering additional protocols on the Spectra Optia system contributes to its enhanced versatility, performance and patient care for our customers," said Tom Jordan, senior vice president of Therapeutic Apheresis and Cell Therapy Systems at CaridianBCT. "We are excited to launch the RBCX protocol in Canada, and are currently under FDA review for 510(k) clearance to release in the United States."
The RBCX protocol release in Canada follows the November 2009 launch in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Australia and areas of Asia. Included in the family of protocols now available for the Spectra Optia system are the TPE protocol, available to EMEA, Australia, the United States and Canada and the Mononuclear Cell (MNC) protocol, launched in EMEA and Australia in October 2008.
About Spectra Optia Apheresis System:
Based on COBE® Spectra system technology, the Spectra Optia system is a transportable therapeutic apheresis system that uses centrifugation for blood separation and a unique optical detection technology for interface management (Automated Interface Management system) . The Spectra Optia system, tubing sets, and software have received a CE Mark and 510K clearance for the TPE protocol, and a CE Mark for the MNC and RBCX protocols.
About CaridianBCT:
CaridianBCT is the leading global provider of innovative technologies and services specializing in automated blood collections, therapeutic apheresis and cell therapy systems, whole blood processes and pathogen reduction technologies. The company serves patients through its commitment to better blood and better lives by developing and commercializing products that serve global customers in the blood banking, therapeutic apheresis and transfusion medicine industries. For more information, visit http://www.caridianbct.com/ .
###
Contact:
Lisa Hayes, Vice President of Global Marketing and Corporate Communications
Phone: +1 303.231.4201
press@caridianbct.com