Blood cannot be artificially produced – which is why every blood donation makes a valuable contribution to our society. At Hettich AG, we want to contribute not only through our daily work, but also by taking personal responsibility. That is why our team visited the Interregional Blood Transfusion SRC in Berne and donated blood together. With this joint initiative, we wanted to make a personal contribution to a safe and reliable blood supply.
Our visit also gave us the opportunity to take a fascinating look behind the scenes and gain a better understanding of what happens after a blood donation and how the donated blood is processed into safe and valuable blood products.
Day after day, Hettich AG sells, supports, advises on and services a wide range of equipment used in laboratories and medical facilities throughout Switzerland. But where are these devices used, and what role do they actually play?
To explore these questions, the Hettich team visited the Interregional Blood Transfusion SRC in Berne. Devices from Hettich, B Medical Systems and Helmer are used there every day, supporting processes that ultimately contribute to saving lives.
Together with Mr. Zehnder, we were given a fascinating insight into the laboratory, where donated blood is processed after collection.
One blood donation becomes several vital blood products
After blood collection, the whole blood proceeds to processing. There, it is first centrifuged using a Hettich ROTO SILENTA 630 RS. Centrifugation separates the different components of the blood. This results in three layers: red blood cells (erythrocytes), the buffy coat, which contains platelets (thrombocytes), and plasma.
An essential part of the entire process is complete traceability. Every blood donation must remain clearly linked to the corresponding donor at all times. If this traceability can no longer be guaranteed, the blood cannot be used. To support this process, Interregional Blood Transfusion SRC uses , among other solutions, HettInfo II, which digitally records and documents the relevant information.
Following the initial separation, the individual blood components are further processed and prepared into the respective blood products.
Erythrocytes – supplying the body with oxygen
The red blood cells are then filtered after separation to remove unwanted components. A nutrient solution is then added, and the finished red blood cell concentrate is stored under refrigerated conditions.
Erythrocytes are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. They are used, for example, when patients have too few red blood cells due to illness or when blood is urgently needed following significant blood loss.
Thrombocytes – essential for Blood Clotting
The thrombocytes (platelets) are initially found in the buffy coat layer. To produce a thrombocyte concentrate, buffy coats from several donors with the same blood group are combined and subsequently further processed and purified.
The finished platelet concentrate is stored in Helmer platelet agitators. Continuous gentle movement helps keep the platelets in optimal condition and prevents them from clumping together.
Thrombocytes play a crucial role in blood clotting. One particular challenge is their short shelf life compared with other blood products. This makes regular blood donations especially important. Patients with severe injuries or burns, for example, may depend on these preparations.
Plasma – valuable for medicine and research
The plasma is also further processed after separation. To protect the sensitive proteins it contains, it is rapidly deep-frozen using a B Medical Systems Contact Shock Freezer (CSF).
Here, it is essential that the cooling process is reliable and takes place within the specified parameters. Only then can the quality of the plasma be maintained.
Plasma contains numerous valuable proteins and is important not only for medical care but also for research and pharmaceutical applications. Among other things, important medicines can be produced from plasma.
Every drop counts
Our visit to the Blood Donation Centre Bern showed us not only how important the work behind the blood supply is, but also how every individual can make a difference.
For us at Hettich AG, it was particularly meaningful to connect our professional involvement with a personal commitment. Donating blood together was a simple but meaningful way for our team to give something back and contribute to people who depend on blood products.
At the same time, it was fascinating to see how our equipment, together with solutions from B Medical Systems and Helmer, is integrated into these important processes. Our work does not end with the sale of a device – through our products, service and expertise, we support the people and organisations who ensure that these processes run reliably every day.
A sincere thank you to the Interregional Blood Transfusion SRC for the fascinating behind-the-scenes insights and for giving us the opportunity to learn about the individual steps from blood donation to the finished blood product.
