Blood Products

Blood products are therapeutic substances derived from human blood, including whole blood and blood components such as red blood cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitates, as well as plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) including albumin, antihemophilic factor, antithrombin, coagulation factors, fibrin, immune globulins, protein C and others. Whole blood is rarely transfused, and these blood products are used to treat specific conditions instead. Blood viscosity is fairly thin, from 2.1 to 3.4 cPs, though processed blood products may have higher or lower viscosities.

Viking’s hygienic positive displacement pumps are highly effective for transferring blood products due to their precision, gentle handling, and ability to maintain the integrity of sensitive biological materials. These pumps are designed to meet stringent sanitary standards, ensuring that the transfer process is free from contamination and that the blood components are preserved in their natural state. The rotary lobe and circumferential piston pumping principles allow for accurate and consistent flow rates, minimizing shear stress and preventing damage to delicate blood cells and proteins. Furthermore, these self-draining, low holdup-volume pumps are easy to clean and sterilize, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. This makes them an ideal choice for applications in the medical and pharmaceutical industries where maintaining the purity and functionality of blood products is paramount. And unlike peristaltic or diaphragm pumps, their stainless steel construction means they are not continuously shedding rubber or plastic particles into the fluids.

Viking In the Process

Viking pumps are used to handle whole blood prior to separations via centrifuging and other fractionation technologies and processes, as well as downstream transfer of processed blood and plasma products to storage or packaging.