Process
The start of the apheresis event on Chance- the horse that VAS UK's development was inspired by.Â
chance.MP4Apheresis cycle stage showing elution of plasma from the Latham centrifuge bowl. Each cycle that processes around 250ml of blood takes around 10 minutes.
vid2-elution of plasma.MP4parent unit of prp.MP4200ml parent unit of prp- separation into aliquot packs using a volume limiter and equine lysate pack designed and supplied by innovative animal supplies (IAS).
What happens at an event step by step illustration:
Your vet will have performed a clinical examination, taken a haematology screen and provided the results to IAS.
2. Your horse should be placed in a secure area such as equine stocks, though stable side collections can be performed in a large clean stable with quiet horses. An area with little thoroughfare is preferred. This is important so that we can safely and reliably perform the collection over 45minutes. This allows your horse to be kept safe and still, to be connected up to the apheresis machine and maintain blood flow. In most horses (but not all if temperament allows) a small amount of light sedation will be administered by your vet to facilitate them staying calm and comfortable.
3. Neck, Catheter etc
Image 1: An area of hair on neck over the jugular groove is clipped and sterile scrub procedure performed. An IV catheter is placed using aseptic technique into the jugular vein.
Image 2: Catheter is secured in place.
Image 3: A vetwrap neck wrap provides more security.
Image 4: Apheresis harness is connected and draw cycle is initiated.
4. Apheresis Machine
Images 1 & 2: Blood flows into the apheresis machine.
Image 3: Blood is centrifuged in the Latham bowl of the apheresis machine. This bowl is designed to potentiate separation of the prp layer. Plasma initially eluted, followed by prp.
5. Plasma Collection
Image 1: Plasma is collected into a weighed collection bag, and the prp in a separate bag the prp is at the point where a density change is detected by the apheresis machine. This indicates that platelets are within the plasma. A surge cycle pushes them into a separate collection bag.
Images 2 & 3: The prp goes through an additional leucoreduction stage before being expressed into its final collection bag.
6. Draw Cycles
Image 1: This picture shows the first draw cycle at the stage of plasma collection, prior to elution of the prp.
Image 2: After each draw cycle there is a return cycle that returns the red cells and plasma back to the donor - these products can also be collected but for regenerative medicine purposes it is only the prp that we collect.
Image 3: After the final return phase has been completed the collected prp is sterile heat welded from the harness, is kept at room temperature and prepared for sterile separation into multiple doses.
7. Once the collection has been performed the donor has the harness removed, pressure is placed on the catheter removal site to ensure there is no bruising or bleeding at the site. The donor can be taken for a short lead walk or placed in a stable to relax while the product preparation is completed. They do not need any additional water intake or feed, they should just be treated completely normally and have access to normal food and water once the sedation has worn off (your vet will advise on their standard procedures).
8. Pouches
Image 1: Prp is separated in an aseptic manner using a space limiter technique and sterile equine platelet lysate kit provided by Innovative Animal Supplies (IAS).
Images 2 & 3: This provides 15 separate dose sealed pouches of prp. Volume can be defined by the treating vet. Standardly aliquots of 10-25ml are prepared.
Images 4 & 5: These individual doses are labelled with the individual horses name, collection date and volume. Aliquots are stored in a specially designed storage container suitable for long-term freezing.
Image 6: Aliquots can be used immediately in an injured horse as prp. The remaining aliquots can be frozen between -20 and -80 degrees centigrade. They are then termed equine platelet lysate. Depending on storage and treatment requirements equine platelet lysate has a shelf life frozen between 2-5 years.
preparation.MP4Dose preparation video
