Project Description:
Massive hemorrhage is responsible for nearly 90% of preventable trauma-related deaths, and mounting evidence supports the use of early whole blood (WB) transfusion over packed red blood cells alone to address both coagulopathy and shock. Group O-negative WB is preferred in these urgent scenarios where ABO typing is not practical. However, its plasma contains anti-A and anti-B isoagglutinins that can cause severe hemolytic reactions in non-O recipients. The current standard of practice to address this issue relies on “low-titer” Group O-negative WB (LTOWB), which has limited donor availability, especially in urgent trauma scenarios. To overcome this barrier, we propose an automated antibody removal system utilizing the Therasorb Omni immunoadsorption column from Miltenyi Biotech, a CE-marked technology that removes immunoglobulins via sepharose-bound polyclonal anti-human Ig antibodies. By integrating this column into a streamlined blood-bank workflow featuring pumps, solenoid valves, conductivity sensing, peristaltic pumping, and a sterilizable casing, we aim to selectively eliminate anti-A and anti-B antibodies from Type O-negative plasma. This device will preserve the efficacy, safety, and integrity of WB for hemostasis, oxygen delivery, and volume expansion to improve patient outcomes in emergency trauma situations. Successful implementation of this system would significantly expand the donor pool for universal whole blood transfusion and enhance success in massive transfusion protocols for trauma care.
