Plasma fractionation in blood transfusion service

Hungary's health service (10 million pop.) needs about 2000 kg of albumin, 10 million units of Factor VIII 1-1,5 million units of Factor IX, and 3 million micrograms of anti D IgG a year. The plasma for these products is collected from volunteer blood donors and by plasmapheresis. 90% of the albumin is produced by the Cohn method. To study the efficiency of a new chromatographic plasma fractionation method (3), we installed an integrated system for the production of factor VIII, PCC, albumin and intravenous IgG. About 10% of the total albumin is produced using this system. The paper discusses the results of 3 years of experimentation with the chromatographic system. The problems of the method are also analysed in detail. PCC is now in clinical use, the albumin is under clinical trial and the clinical trial of the i.v. IgG will start soon.