STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 09, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Gambro AB (Stockholmsborsen: GAMBaST, GAMBbST), a leading international medical technology and healthcare company, today announced that its subsidiary Gambro BCT has received approval from the Japanese Red Cross for its automated blood collection system for collection of leukoreduced platelets and plasma. The approval of the Trima Accel System represents a major milestone for Gambro BCT on the Japanese market.
During the autumn of 2003, marketing trials were conducted in four blood centers throughout Japan. After evaluation, the Japanese Red Cross found the performance of the system met and exceeded expectations. Blood center operators found it easy to use and donor friendly.
70% of platelet collections in Japan are collections with a lower yield of platelets than are typical for other areas of the world. The majority of donors in Japan are small in size, which means they require lower blood flow rates during donation. Trima Accel's efficient separation technology requires less blood to be processed during a donation, providing shorter procedure times. The system's low extra-corporeal volume and new configuration options, which limit blood flow rates, also enhance donor comfort.
Blood transfusions in Japan are the second highest in the world, with the US being number one. The Japanese Red Cross is the primary blood collection organization in Japan, collecting over 20 million units of blood in 2003. Of those collections, approximately 750,000 are automated collections of single donor platelets. Currently, approximately 4% of those collections are done using Gambro BCT systems. Given the quality and ease of use, it is expected that number of collections performed by Gambro BCT systems will increase significantly in the next year.
"The Trima Accel system collects platelets that are leukoreduced using our unique leukoreduction system," according to Jeff Abbott, Vice President and General Manager Gambro BCT North Asia. "The system is an excellent platform from which the Japanese Red Cross can implement pre- storage leukoreduction," he added. The Japanese Red Cross has stated they plan to implement pre-storage leukoreduction of platelets in 2004.
About Gambro BCT
Gambro BCT, headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, is a world leader in blood bank technologies, automated blood collection and processing, pathogen reduction techniques, and value added blood and cell based therapeutic services.
For further information please contact: David Perez, President, Gambro BCT tel. +1-303-232-6800 visit the website www.gambrobct.com Bengt Modeer, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications tel. +46-8-613 65 33, +46-70-513 65 33 Pia Irell, Investor Relations Director, Corporate Finance tel. +46-8-613 65 91, +46-70-513 65 91
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