Carter BloodCare first to complete transition to automated whole blood processing with Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies
The following press release is courtesy of Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies.
- First U.S. deployment of the Reveos™ Automated Blood Processing System with Lumia™ Software Platform to help Carter BloodCare meet the needs of Texas patients for platelets, plasma and red blood cells
- More blood centers nationwide will soon adopt Reveos to automate blood processing
Lakewood, CO, U.S.A. –Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT), a global leader in blood management solutions, today announces that Carter BloodCare is the first U.S. adopter of its Reveos™ Automated Blood Processing System and Lumia™ Software Platform. Carter BloodCare, one of the largest Texas blood centers, is the first to begin using Reveos to automate the separation of whole blood into lifesaving components.
Used globally for over a decade in 50+ countries, Reveos targets efficiency to bolster the platelet supply. Whole blood donations are common at community blood drives and blood centers. Those whole blood donations are usually separated, using a centrifuge, into their respective components — plasma, platelets and red blood cells. Healthcare providers use the different blood components for various patients based on need. In the U.S., the processing of whole blood required a series of more than 20 steps before Terumo BCT introduced Reveos.
Reveos is the first whole blood automation device available in the U.S. to process whole blood into three components — platelets, plasma and red blood cell concentrates — in a single centrifugation cycle. This streamlined process helps maximize the yield of whole blood donations, addressing the ongoing challenges of platelet shortages and the need for more efficient blood processing methods.
Carter BloodCare’s Impact
Carter BloodCare has long used Terumo BCT’s Trima Accel™ Automated Blood Collection System for apheresis, a process that collects needed blood components and returns the rest of the blood to the donor. Until now, apheresis has been the only automated collection method to produce platelets in the United States. With both Trima Accel and Reveos, Carter BloodCare gains two automated methods for platelet production, helping to address recent U.S. platelet shortages.1 With the integration of Reveos into its operations, Carter BloodCare is better positioned to maintain blood supplies for northern, central and eastern Texas — even during shortages like those the region experienced in 2024. This transition marks a pivotal moment in the organization’s commitment to providing the highest-quality blood products to patients while minimizing hands-on manual steps, cutting processing time, increasing efficiency, preventing errors and reducing waste, says Barbara Bryant, M.D., President and CEO of Carter BloodCare.
“The integration of Reveos has not only streamlined our platelet production process but also allowed us to automate the production of other blood components, including red blood cells and plasma,” Dr. Bryant said. “This advancement significantly enhances our ability to meet the growing demand for blood products while ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety.”
“Reveos is designed to meet the evolving needs of the blood banking industry,” says Chetan Makam, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Global Blood Solutions at Terumo BCT. “We are witnessing growing interest from other blood centers in adopting Reveos, demonstrating a collective effort to improve access to lifesaving blood products within their communities.”
“We applaud Carter BloodCare for this innovative step forward. By embracing automation with Reveos, they’re poised to enhance operational efficiency significantly. This technology empowers blood centers to maximize the yield of lifesaving blood products from each generous donor, ensuring more lives can be impacted,” Makam said.
Reveos Key Facts
The Reveos Automated Blood Processing System is the first and only device of its kind. This easy-to-use system integrates the manual steps of whole blood processing. The implementation of Reveos enables:
- Improved platelet yield and quality: Reveos’ advanced technology optimizes platelet collection and processing, resulting in higher yields and improved platelet quality.
- Enhanced operational efficiency: Automation streamlines the blood component production process, reducing the number of hands-on manual steps and freeing staff to focus on other critical tasks.
- Empowered blood centers: Terumo BCT’s new Lumia Software Platform provides digital data management and operational visibility, helping blood centers to optimize.
- Supported operator experience: Reveos is easy to use and delivers flexibility that allows labs to adapt and grow.
About Reveos
Whole blood units are collected from donors and have traditionally been separated into components — platelets, plasma and red blood cells — using a semiautomated or manual method that takes up to 26 steps. Reveos simplifies this process and eliminates over half of the steps. The system aims to help blood centers manage staffing and improve overall efficiency by obtaining more blood products from the same number of donors. Reveos has been used around the world for more than a decade. There are over 785 devices in 57 countries across five continents, and the device software is available in 17 languages to meet user needs. Reveos is expected to help U.S. blood centers meet the growing demand for platelets, which control bleeding and are used to treat patients facing trauma, cancer and other chronic conditions.
Up to four units of whole blood are loaded into Reveos. The rotor spins, and the whole blood is separated into components. Plasma, platelets and red blood cells are expressed into their respective product bags and each bag is sealed. After the procedure, the data is recorded on Terumo BCT’s Lumia Software Platform, which connects with Reveos to help blood centers and processing labs achieve operational targets.
Availability varies by region and country. Reveos is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Terumo BCT, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. See TerumoBCT.com/trademarks for details.
About Carter BloodCare
Carter BloodCare is an independent, community blood center providing transfusion resources to more than 200 medical facilities in 57 counties of North, Central and East Texas. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 440,000 blood products annually to meet hospitals’ requirements for their patients. Services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products. Tu centro de sangre comunitario.
About Terumo BCT
Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT) is a medical technology company. Our products, software and services enable customers to collect and prepare blood and cells to treat challenging diseases and conditions. Our employees worldwide believe in the potential of blood and cells to do even more for patients than they do today. This belief inspires our innovation and strengthens our collaboration with customers.
Terumo BCT’s customers include blood centers, hospitals, therapeutic apheresis clinics, cell collection and processing organizations, researchers and private medical practices. Our customers are based in over 160 countries across the globe. We have 750+ granted patents, with more than 150 additionally pending.
We have global headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado, along with five regional headquarters, seven manufacturing sites and six innovation and development centers across the globe. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a subsidiary of Terumo Corporation (TSE: 4543), a global leader in medical technology.
###
1American Red Cross, American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). “Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers, AABB Say U.S. Faces Critical Blood and Platelet Shortages.” American Heart Association, 7 Aug. 2024.
Reveos™, Lumia™, and Trima Accel™ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Terumo BCT, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. See TerumoBCT.com/Trademarks for details.
