As manufacturers refine their portfolios and cell washers are more difficult to come by, Helmer Scientific continues to support our customers by offering the UltraCW®II Automatic Cell Washing System. The UltraCW®II saves time and effort by automating the manual steps associated with pre-transfusion tube testing.
Pre-transfusion testing refers to the laboratory tests required to ensure compatibility between a patient’s blood and a transfusion of donated blood. This process includes patient identification, sample collection and labeling, testing to determine the patient’s blood type, and screening for unexpected antibodies.
In addition, compatibility of the donor and recipient’s blood must be determined by crossmatch. The pre-transfusion testing process is completed when a compatible blood product has been identified for transfusion to the patient.
For pre-transfusion tube testing, a cell washing system can improve operational efficiencies compared to manual methods. The cell washer dispenses and decants the saline required for washing processes. Automating the hands-on steps associated with using a centrifuge saves precious technologist time.
Designed to provide precise, consistent, and reproducible cell washing results, the UltraCW®II enables users to streamline workflows for more efficient processing. It has an intuitive touchscreen user interface that includes pre-set programs and is also fully programmable.
Programming capabilities include the typical steps associated with automatic cell washing (fill, spin, decant, and agitate). In addition to these processes, loop and check steps can also be incorporated into programs.
The loop step saves time by enabling previously programmed processes to run in multiple iterations. The check step pauses the program and opens the lid of the centrifuge, making it convenient to perform wash cycles, add reagents, and then do a quick spin at the end of the program – all in one streamlined process.
Ergonomics are also important. For the UltraCW®II, the saline supply can be placed below the unit. This eliminates the inconvenience of having to lift the saline up to the countertop or a location above the cell washer.
The UltraCW®II is recognized by the AABB Standards-Compliant Products Program. This program provides assurance that products for the blood community comply with standards. Products that achieve this recognition have been thoroughly reviewed by AABB and confirmed as adhering to the AABB Standards that relate to equipment, process control, and document control.
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The UltraCW®II is easy to install, operate, and maintain. To make using the cell washer even easier, we have developed a series of demonstration videos that walk you through various processes step-by-step.
