Barkey Plasmatherm: A Safer Approach to Blood Product Thawing
Thawing blood products and cryopreserved cellular therapies requires a controlled and consistent process. Traditional water baths can involve manual handling and direct exposure to water, creating additional considerations around hygiene, contamination and workflow efficiency.
The Barkey Plasmatherm provides a dry heating solution for controlled thawing and warming of blood products, including fresh frozen plasma (FFP), erythrocyte concentrates (EC) and cryopreserved preparations such as stem cell therapies. The system uses water filled heating cushions to transfer heat without direct contact between the product and water.
Reducing Contamination Risks During Blood Product Thawing
Conventional open water baths can present contamination risks because the products being thawed are exposed to the surrounding water environment.
Barkey’s dry heating process removes direct contact between the blood product and water. The Plasmatherm uses two water filled heating cushions within a closed water circuit, providing controlled heat transfer while keeping the product separated from the water.
The system is also designed for straightforward cleaning, with regular wipe disinfection of the heating chamber recommended according to use and product requirements.
Controlled and Consistent Thawing
Manual thawing can involve repeatedly swirling vials or massaging blood bags to help achieve an even thaw. The Barkey Plasmatherm provides a more controlled approach to the thawing process.
The heating cushions conform to the product, allowing heat to be transferred evenly. Depending on the model and application, paddle movement can also support uniform heat distribution during thawing.
This approach can help standardise the thawing process and reduce reliance on manual handling.
Safety Features
The Barkey Plasmatherm incorporates multiple safety features designed to support controlled blood product thawing and warming, including:
• Transparent lid for continuous visual monitoring
• Leakage detection with humidity sensors
• Electronic and mechanical overtemperature protection
• Closed water circuit with no direct contact between water and the product
• Controlled and even heat transfer
These features are designed to support safe and consistent operation in hospital and blood bank environments.
Case Study: Laboratory Efficiency at UCSF
The benefits of the Barkey Plasmatherm have also been examined in a case study involving Lizette Caballero, Senior Supervisor of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Laboratory at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).
Caballero conducted comparison and validation studies at the UCSF Blood and Marrow Transplant Laboratory comparing the Barkey Plasmatherm dry heating device with a conventional 37°C water bath for thawing cryopreserved apheresis products. The study was presented at the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy in 2020.
The Barkey case study reports three key benefits:
1. Reduced contamination risk
The dry heating process avoids direct contact between the product and water, helping reduce the potential for waterborne contamination during thawing.
2. Greater process standardisation
The Plasmatherm provides a controlled alternative to manual swirling of vials or massaging of blood bags, helping create a more consistent thawing process.
3. Potential laboratory time savings
The case study reports that laboratory staff could save approximately 45 minutes per day by eliminating time spent changing water and cleaning an additional machine. This was calculated in the case study as approximately 196 hours per year, with an estimated saving of around $10,000 per year. Based on the case study’s calculation, this equates to approximately $100,000 over a 10 year equipment period.
These figures are reported outcomes from the Barkey case study and should be considered in the context of the laboratory workflow described.
Blood Product Thawing for Hospitals and Blood Banks
The Barkey Plasmatherm range is designed for hospitals and blood banks requiring controlled thawing and warming of blood products and other temperature sensitive materials.
Applications include:
• Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) thawing
• Erythrocyte concentrate (EC) warming
• Cryopreserved preparations
• Stem cell therapy applications
• Infusion solutions
• Blood and fluid warming
Barkey identifies the Plasmatherm as part of its Hospital & Blood Bank range for thawing and warming blood, plasma and cryopreserved preparations.
Barkey Plasmatherm in Australia
Quest Surgical supplies Barkey Plasmatherm blood and fluid warming equipment to hospitals, blood banks, pathology laboratories and healthcare facilities across Australia.
If your facility is reviewing its blood product thawing, plasma thawing or laboratory warming processes, contact Quest Surgical on 1300 786 454 or email sales@questsurgical.com.au to discuss the Barkey Plasmatherm range.