Manufacturing

WATCH: PSA: It all begins with you

Produces all blood products for Arizona and Las Vegas

• Can do up to 1,000 units a day
• Bags are delivered self-contained. Donations taken with satellite bags, so never is exposed

Stop to watch in window – HIGH TECH AND LOW TECH

Component Processing: whole blood is separated into components using methods such as centrifugation

• Plasma on top of red blood cells

Expressors squeeze to separate and only 6 can be done at a time

Quality Testing & Assurance: blood units and components undergo rigorous testing and quality monitoring to ensure they meet regulatory standards and are safe for patients

• Two ways to reduce bacteria or viruses in platelets (which are stored at room temp)
  • Bac-T
  • Pathogen Reduction Technique (PRT)

Storage & Inventory Management: components are stored in specialized refrigerators or freezers under strict temperature controls

Labeling: components are labeled accurately

• Track and trace for patient safety

History of Vitalant

• Vitalant began in Arizona in 1943 as the Salt River Valley Blood Bank in Phoenix, which was one of the first blood centers established to serve communities during and after World War II.
• 1943: Foundation The Salt River Valley Blood Bank was founded in Phoenix, Arizona, to support the growing need for blood during World War II and for civilian use afterwards.
• This initial blood bank was one of the first to emerge after the war, eventually becoming part of Blood Systems, Inc.
• 2018: Rebranding to Vitalant In 2018, Blood Systems, Inc. and several other large blood centers unified and adopted the new name, Vitalant, to consolidate their operations under one brand.

Vitalant Research Institute (VRI)

• Dr. Michael Bush – renown
• Developed Zika testing then FDA approved PRT (which had not been available in US)