Ethylene Oxide and Sterilization in Healthcare

A Priority Central to Our Mission

Terumo BCT designs, manufactures, and distributes medical products that help save lives. We make products that collect, separate, and process blood and cells. A simple way to think of it is this: If you have ever donated blood or have a loved one who has received a blood transfusion, you have likely interacted with some of our products.

More than 20 billion medical devices in the U.S. — including those made by Terumo BCT — are sterilized each year using EtO. EtO is the only effective, viable sterilization method for over 50% of healthcare products, including those devices we sterilize at our Lakewood facility.¹

Terumo BCT meets or exceeds every standard for EtO use. Our advanced emissions control system captures over 99% of the EtO used in our Lakewood sterilization operations. We installed a new, state-of-the-art, $22-million emissions control system that will further reduce our already very low emissions. It is operating as intended.

Terumo BCT’s products are used to help treat many patients around the world, including Bola — who is pictured receiving a procedure called red blood cell exchange (RBCX). RBCX is used to help manage sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder that primarily affects people of African descent.

Terumo BCT’s Lakewood roots run deep. The company has called Lakewood home for 60 years — before the city of Lakewood was even incorporated.

Our company makes critical healthcare products that help save lives. These products collect blood and cells from healthy donors, process blood and cells, and deliver effective therapy to patients.

Blood and cells are indispensable in sustaining our lives and hold the potential to treat many serious diseases. Our products are used in lifesaving medical procedures in 150 countries by blood centers, hospitals, therapeutic apheresis clinics, cell collection and processing organizations, researchers, plasma centers, and private medical practices.

We are committed to bringing lifesaving treatments to patients around the world. Terumo BCT actively works with local, state, and federal agencies to continue to meet and exceed strict standards designed by these agencies to protect public health and the environment.