Optical Sensing Technology
BCSI has developed a novel and proprietary method for non-invasively monitoring the pH of platelets inside storage bags. BCSI’s optical sensing technology is incorporated directly into storage bags, so measurements can be taken multiple times and no sampling is required.
The company’s pH Monitoring System consists of a storage bag with the incorporated optical sensor and fluorometer that measures light emissions. The optical pH sensor has very unique properties. As you shine a light on the sensor, it emits a glow. This glow changes in color and intensity as the biochemicals inside the bag change composition over time.
(Photo,above) Different colors of plasma in storage bags
The fluorometer, the pH1000™ instrument, measures the fluorescent light intensity of the biochemical sensor at two wavelengths and takes a ratio of the two light intensities. This ratio of the two measurements gives the pH readings from inside the bag. The reading is not affected by different colors of plasma, including those containing excessive fat, or with high red blood cell counts, or women on contraceptives.
Because the optical sensing technology allows non-invasive monitoring of the health of platelets, it allows for multiple readings and monitoring while maintaining the sterility of the bag.
BCSI pH1000 tracks accurately over days as demonstrated in graph above. Four sterile BCSI platelet storage bags with pH detecting inserts were equipped with septum adaptors to allow daily (invasive) analysis with a Bayer Rapidlab blood gas analyzer. BCSI's non-invasive pH readings were consistent with the blood gas readings. BSCI is currently introducing our pH1000™ System in Europe. Products are not yet available in North America.
Technical Publications
Sanquin Studies( Click Here)
Bacterial Studies
Time Course of pH in Platelet Concentrates after Bacterial Contamination
T. Montag, S. Nicol, U. Schurig, J.Brachert, A.Sauer, J.Hermanns, U.Sicker, M. Stormer, T. Muller, and C.K. Schneider, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen Germany, and German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service NSTOB, Institute Springe, Germany, (ISBT, DGTI, 2008).
Time Course of pH in Platelet Concentrates after Bacterial Contamination
T. Montag, S.Nicol, U. Schurig, J. Brachert, A. Sauer, A. Friedrich, R. Muller, C.K. Schneider, Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), Langen Germany, and German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service NSTOP, Institute Springe, Germany, (ISBT 2007).
Daily Non-Invasive Fluorescence Ratio Measurement of Platelet Concentrate pH Can Detect the Presence of Bacteria:
L. Barker, O. Nanassy, M. Reed, S. Geelhood, R. Pfalzgraf, BCSI Seattle, WA; G. Cangelosi, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, WA. (AABB 2006 SP49) View: Summary; Poster.
Gram Negative and Gram Positive Strains Chart
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