We know that one of your goals for any procedure is to enhance the patient experience. Using single-needle access for red blood cell exchange (RBCX) procedures can help improve the patient’s comfort, safety, and independence. It may help make your job easier. Here, we take a closer look at the potential benefits of single-needle access and explain how you can choose this option on the Spectra Optia™ Apheresis System.

Single-needle advantages
Using the single-needle option for RBCX enhances patient comfort by reducing the need for two peripheral needlesticks or access points. That can make your job easier, too, particularly when dual-needle access is challenging.
 
Exchanges using single-needle access may improve patient safety by reducing the risk of infection.¹ This approach also gives your patient more independence, since they have a free arm to use for eating, drinking, using their phone, and so on.
 
The single point of access uses intermittent flow by means of draw and return phases. Optimizing the process helps ensure this does not create a significant increase in procedure time.

How to choose the single-needle option
If your Spectra Optia system uses software version 12.0 or higher, you can choose the single-needle option for RBCX. You can select this option at the beginning of the procedure or mid-run. Just follow the simple steps below to transition the procedure from dual-needle to single-needle.

1. Under the Run menu, choose the Options tab, then touch Single Needle until Yes appears on the button.

2. Follow the on-screen steps, which include confirming the conversion to single-needle access.
 
3. Once you have completed all the required steps, the single-needle icon appears on the main Run screen, indicating that you have confirmed the single-needle option.

4. It’s important not to connect the single-needle connector until the screen prompts you to do so. At that point, and after you have confirmed the single-needle option is selected, follow the on-screen instructions to connect and prime the single-needle connector.

Questions?
To learn more about using the single-needle option for RBCX procedures on Spectra Optia, review the Spectra Optia system operator’s manual or contact your Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies representative.

1. Barth D, Sanchez A, Thomsen AM, et al. Peripheral vascular access for therapeutic plasma exchange: A practical approach to increase utilization and selecting the most appropriate vascular access. J Clin Apher. 2020;35(30):178-187.