With the Blood Production and Cellular Therapy Center – enabled three years ago and with the new equipment inaugurated almost a year ago –, the Social Security Institute (IPS) not only becomes a unit for receiving donors and providing blood , but through modern laboratories it has a wide range of services, among which cell therapy for neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer cases and even intrauterine fetal blood transfusion stands out, among others.
With blood donation, which is mostly replacement, not only is it supplied to the patient who will require surgery or a blood transfusion, but also through modern equipment they are able to generate hemocomponents (blood components) – surplus plasma for export, that was previously discarded.
Since 2017, this has been paid from Córdoba, Argentina, to the IPS with blood products such as albumin and immunoglobin that are used in patients with autoimmune, neurological and other diseases.
In seven years, blood products worth more than USD 1 million have already been received.
The Blood Production Center is the “pumping heart” of the IPS and has five areas. Among them, the blood donor promotion and collection area – which is open from Monday to Sunday from 06:30 to 17:30 –, then the biological qualification area, which is made up of three modern laboratories, which are the pillars of the transfusion safety, explained Dr. Romy Alcaraz, director of the unit.
There are three laboratories, one is hematology for typing, the other is serology and molecular biology, which allows the detection of three viruses: hepatitis B, C and HIV in early stages, highlighted the director.
Then, in the production area, with modern and automated equipment, where the blood is separated into its different components (red blood cells, plasmas, platelets).
“Once it is separated, that is stored in different places because they are handled differently. Once this blood is validated by the laboratory, it goes to the distribution area, where it is distributed to our transfusion services,” the professional explained.
After this step it is distributed to the main IPS hospitals in the country. There is also the quality management area and the last one of transfusion medicine that is in the Central Hospital. In this area, outpatient transfusions of alternative iron therapy are given to anemic patients such as kidney or cancer patients.
They also make autologous serum for dry eyes and have a service for pediatric inpatients called apheresis, that is, therapeutic plasma exchanges for cases of encephalitis and autoimmune diseases.
Transplants. In relation to bone marrow transplants, a total of 45 have already been performed this year and the goal is 52, the only one in the country for adult patients.
Among the most innovative is the intrauterine transplant in cases of anemia in the fetus.
“This way we demonstrate that every last drop of your donated blood is used as long as you meet the requirements.”
Among the new equipment is the blood components irradiator. It is the only one in the country and uses X-rays to prevent graft-versus-host disease in immunocompromised patients, which can be fatal.
Cryopreservation of hematopoietic progenitor cells also allows conservation at -80 and -150 degrees. Likewise, the cold room with carousels stands out, which is one of the largest and only in Latin America.
Control. An official sorts the approved donations.
Modern equipment. This cold chamber with carousels is one of the largest in the country and the only one in Latin America.
Cutting-edge technology. With the new equipment they can even detect hepatitis C and HIV in very early stages.
Every last drop of your donated blood is used as long as you meet the requirements. Dr. Romy Alcaraz, head of the IPS Center.
