Experience with Kiefel blood bags for pre-storage leukocyte-reduced red blood cells

The hospitals at the University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus (LAC+USC Medical Center, USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital) have been informed that there will be a change in some of the red cell storage bags that are shipped to the USC hospitals to provide pre-storage leukocyte-reduced red blood cells. The new bag fabrication technology will replace the current white port 'Hat Brim' red cell bag used to transport and store pre-storage leukocyte-reduced red blood cells. This bag is called a 'Kiefel' bag (see illustrations below). The key difference between the current 'Hat Brim' bag and the proposed Kiefel bag are the spike ports. The Kiefel bag has a tear-away seal with membranes as opposed to the current pull-tab seal (see pictures below). There are no differences in the tubing connections or bag plastic (PVC). The hospitals at the University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus have been advised to adhere to the following procedure in order to assure proper product use:

Locate the slit on the side of the tear seal (of the spike port)
Tear in a forward and backward motion
Pull upward to remove, or tear cap off completely.

Staff at USC are curious to learn the experience of others with this Kiefel bag format. Also, is it well accepted by the clinicians, nurses and other transfusionists?

The following responses have been received.

ADDENDA Mar. 30, 2004

A colleague at the Laboratory for Blood Transfusion Technology Sanquin Research at CLB reports: "The Kiefel bag is the standard design for most blood bags in Europe (for example Fresenius Hemocare, formerly NPBI) and is very well accepted. In my experience, the tear seal is easy to remove and the spike port is much easier to use than the Hat Brim.

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