Blood Bank of Delmarva and Pensak Technologies announce testing partnership

Pensak Technologies announces cooperative testing of its new HemoStable products with the Blood Bank of Delmarva

Wilmington, Delaware, July 15, 2015 – Pensak Technologies recently announced that together with the Blood Bank of Delmarva, it will begin a cooperative testing process of HemoStable. HemoStable is Pensak Technologies’ internationally patented suite of new technologies designed to maintain the proper temperature of donated blood.  While high performance refrigeration plays a vital role in blood storage after collection, HemoStable vastly improves the safety and temperature uniformity of blood and blood products during initial collection, shipping and in surgery.

According to a new study recently released by ELSEVIER Best Practice & Research Clinical Anesthesiology, the actual cost of a pint of blood from donation to transfusion exceeds $1,400 per pint. Currently, however, approximately 500 pints of blood per day are lost due to spoilage. This is primarily due to fluctuations in blood temperature.  Now, when utilizing HemoStable, a bag of whole blood can remain within 1-6°Celsius (C), the optimal temperature range, for 10 hours without supplemental refrigeration.

“We are delighted to be working with the Blood Bank of Delmarva.” states Dr. David Pensak, CEO of Pensak Technologies.   “Without question they are one of the most innovative blood banks in the country.   The chance to learn from them the practical realities of the entire spectrum of blood processing is priceless - and will enable us to develop even more technologies to improve the safety of the blood supply and to keep costs under control.”

Maintenance of blood temperature between +1°C to +6 °C is essential to maintaining the oxygen carrying ability of blood.  In addition, exceeding the upper limit of 6°C can contribute to the growth of bacteria and the contamination of the collected blood.

And, when collected if blood’s temperature dips below 1°C, the red cells become hemolyzed (hemoglobin is liberated into the medium in which the cells are suspended).  So, blood must never be allowed to freeze. If hemolyzed cells are transfused, the patient may suffer renal failure or fatal bleeding problems.

Pensak Technologies’ HemoStable begins cooling the blood to the proper temperature as the initial collection process begins. HemoStable may also be utilized during the transport of blood, when the threat of temperature variation is at its greatest. And, the same technologies may even be employed within the surgery suite, so that the entire process -- from initial collection from a donor, through transport, and into the actual patient -- blood temperature safety is consistently and accurately maintained.

Pensak Technologies will coordinate the testing process with Blood Bank of Delmarva’s CEO Roy Roper, Medical Director Dr. Theresa Boyd, and Lead Executive of Laboratory Services and Distribution Christopher Nare.

In addition, vital technology has been supplied by Cambro, an industry leader in insulated transport products.  “Cambro’s existing transport systems are a natural fit and will allow Pensak Technologies to create stronger and more durable blood transport devices,” explains Donald McNeill, Pensak Technologies’ Director of Business Development. “Very simply, the combination of HemoStable technology with Cambro products will translate into a safer blood supply worldwide.”