Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Preparation and Pathogen Inactivation of Double Dose Buffy Coat Platelet Products using the INTERCEPT Blood System
Published on: December 7, 2012
Pathogen inactivation of red cell concentrates and whole blood: I. History, technologies and in vitro product
Pieter F van der Meer1,2, Jose A Cancelas3,4,5, Thomas R L Klei1
1Department of Product and Process Development, Sanquin Blood Bank, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The application of technologies to inactivate pathogens in pooled plasma products is nowadays the standard. The number of blood centres applying these technologies to platelet concentrates is steadily increasing. However, pathogen inactivation (PI) of red cell concentrates and whole blood (WB) is challenging, as the haemoglobin-containing red cells quench light, and therefore require a different approach. Three technologies are currently under active development: S-303 (Intercept), UV-C (Theraflex) and riboflavin/UV (Mirasol). The S-303 technology is used for PI of red cell concentrates and has seen significant technical and clinical development in the last decade. Using this technology, red cell both ATP and haemolysis levels conform to objective requirements. For the UV-C technology, only one publication is available showing satisfactory quality of treated red cell concentrates in vitro. Lastly, the riboflavin and UV light technology is used on WB, and the in vitro data show room for improvement for red cell ATP and haemolysis levels. Part II of this review focuses on recovery studies and clinical trials that have been performed using pathogen-inactivated red cell concentrates.
The application of technologies to inactivate pathogens in pooled plasma products is nowadays the standard. The number of blood centres applying these technologies to platelet concentrates is steadily increasing. However, pathogen inactivation (PI) of red cell concentrates and whole blood (WB) is challenging, as the haemoglobin-containing red cells quench light, and therefore require a different approach. Three technologies are currently under active development: S-303 (Intercept), UV-C (Theraflex) and riboflavin/UV (Mirasol). The S-303 technology is used for PI of red cell concentrates and has seen significant technical and clinical development in the last decade. Using this technology, red cell both ATP and haemolysis levels conform to objective requirements. For the UV-C technology, only one publication is available showing satisfactory quality of treated red cell concentrates in vitro. Lastly, the riboflavin and UV light technology is used on WB, and the in vitro data show room for improvement for red cell ATP and haemolysis levels. Part II of this review focuses on recovery studies and clinical trials that have been performed using pathogen-inactivated red cell concentrates.

