Acolyte Biomedica and Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service agree research collaboration in the field of bacterial contamination detection in blood platelets
Acolyte Biomedica and the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) have entered into a joint research programme with the objective of establishing the suitability of Acolyte's proprietary AK Rapid technology in the rapid and highly sensitive detection of bacterial contamination within blood platelets.
Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate and share resources in order to develop a version of Acolyte's BacLite diagnostic test system which has the potential to detect bacteria in platelets within 2-4 hours, thus dramatically improving the current testing time which can take several days.
Sensitivity and speed of result are critically important because donated platelets routinely have a shelf life of only five days and must be stored at ambient temperature.
For those rare units that may be contaminated with bacteria, the need to store at room temperature promotes bacterial growth.
Testing at the time of preparation may not detect low levels of bacteria.
There are more than 4 million platelet transfusions worldwide per annum each playing a critical role for leukaemia sufferers, patients with bone marrow failure and those undergoing post transplant and chemotherapy treatments.
Acolyte will launch its first commercial application of the AK technology in its BacLite Rapid MRSA screening test in June this year (2005).
Adenylate Kinase (AK) is a constitutive enzyme present in all micro organisms and its detection provides a uniquely sensitive test perfectly suited to the platelet contamination role.
AK technology was originally developed by the UK based Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Acolyte has been granted an exclusive licence to exploit the technology in the field of clinical diagnostics.
If successful, the parties have stated their intention to extend the research collaboration into a full product development.
The investigators are Juraj Petrik (lead), Lisa Jarvis and Marisa Chongkwan from SNBTS and Steve O'Hara (lead) and Marc Green from Acolyte.
Tim Coombs, chairman of Acolyte, commented: "There is a clear worldwide need for rapid and highly sensitive detection of bacterial contamination in platelets.
"SNBTS brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the processing and testing of blood components.
"Acolyte can provide a new detection technology which promises dramatic reductions in the time to result.
"Together we offer the best prospect of delivering a practical and cost effective solution to a pressing healthcare need".
Keith Thompson, SNBTS national director said: "Blood services around the world are all faced with the same challenge, how can we reduce the risk of platelet contamination and maintain a supply of fresh platelets? We are pleased to be working with Acolyte on this new and exciting technology.
"The benefits of success will be enormous with improved safety and availability of platelets for patients"
