"Verax Platelet PGD® test is the industry standard when it comes to the detection of bacteria in platelets, and we are pleased to continue our partnership with Fresenius Kabi to combat the severe risk of bacterial contamination in the U.S. blood supply - the number one infectious risk to platelet transfusion recipients," said Verax Biomedical CEO Jim Lousararian. "Fresenius Kabi is a leader in the development of products that improve blood collection and safety worldwide, and we look forward to continuing our work with them to improve health care outcomes by reducing transfusion reactions associated with bacterial contamination."
"The Verax Platelet PGD® test is an essential safety tool that every hospital should use before transfusions," said Dean Gregory, president, Medical Devices, Fresenius Kabi USA. "This agreement reaffirms our commitment to Verax technology, and is yet another example of how we are supporting improved safety in transfusion medicine."
The Verax PGD® test, based on proprietary technology developed by Verax, consists of an easy-to-use disposable test device and reagents that work together to detect the presence of bacterial contaminants in platelets. The test can be performed in less than 30 minutes and is designed for use in hospitals, cancer centers and other sites of care as a safeguard prior to transfusion.
Annually, more than 6 million platelet doses are transfused worldwide, and approximately 1 in 2,000 doses are contaminated by bacteria. The presence of bacteria in platelets can pose serious risks for patients, including sepsis—a life-threatening infection in the blood stream. The test is a cost effective approach to platelet bacterial safety.