OLYMPUS TECHNOZONE Vol.67 2006-11
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Automatic Testing Helps to Ensure Transfusion Safety
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Dr. Ikeda, would you first tell us about the basics of blood
transfusion services in Japan?
In Japan, the Japan Red Cross supplies blood products to medical institutions under contract to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. We produce our blood products from donated blood, which we first subject to safety checks. Safety is paramount, because the blood is introduced directly into the bodies of patients through transfusions. We also need to maintain reliable supplies, since we cannot afford to have a shortage of blood for transfusions. In fiscal 2004, the Hokkaido Center tested sufficient blood to provide transfusions to approximately 317,000 people.
Your work is literally a matter of life and death. What testdo you perform to ensure the safety of blood products?
After collecting blood from donors, we carry out blood grouping tests and irregular antibodies tests and infectious disease markers tests. In the past this work was all done manually, but today we use automatic testing systems. The Hokkaido Center tests 1,000 donors every day, and each unit must undergo an expanding range of tests. We couldn't manage without automatic systems.
You are using the Olympus PK Series , aren't you?
Yes. PK Series equipment has been installed at all Japanese Red Cross blood centers in Japan and has become the Japanese standard. In this sense, it would be fair to say that Olympus has an important social responsibility in relation to blood transfusion services.
What you have said is extremely important. The PK Series is used not only in Japan, but also in other countries around the world, so our responsibility will become even heavier in the future. Olympus has summed up its mission in the concept of "Social-IN." The "IN" stands for "INvolvement," "INsight" and "INspiration." In other words, we aim to contribute to human health and happiness by becoming involved in society, by providing insights through the sharing of our values, and by providing inspiration through the proposal of new values. As these words suggest, we place greater importance on contribution to society. Our involvement in blood transfusion services aligns perfectly with this stance.
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