Case Study: Croatian Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Croatia

The Croatian Institute for Transfusion Medicine (HZTM) in Zagreb is Croatia’s national blood bank and the largest in the country. The institute handles approximately 100,000 donations per year and processes around 400 donations daily. Its activities include collecting, producing, storing, and distributing blood and several blood components, with testing of donations and organ donors. The institute covers roughly half of Croatia’s needs, with about 40% of processed plasma used clinically and 60% allocated to pharmaceutical fractionation.

Storage and manufacturing workflow

HZTM employs an overnight hold manufacturing process. Collected whole blood is cooled within 4 hours to 22°C and stored overnight at 22°C. Processing proceeds the following morning, and plasma is frozen within 24 hours of collection. The institute operates three plasma contact shock freezers, each delivering 3 to 4 freeze cycles per day.

Equipment acquisition and rationale

The institute purchased the CSF61 contact shock freezer for plasma freezing. It supplements two existing contact shock freezers from another manufacturer as part of ongoing expansion.

Device performance and operational metrics

• Freezing temperature and material integrity: CSF61 achieves freezing at approximately -35°C to -45°C, reducing brittleness compared with -75°C systems.
• Energy efficiency and throughput: the CSF61 is described as more energy efficient and three times faster, with typical freezing of the contents of two plates in 20–25 minutes.
• Dual-side freezing: unlike some devices that freeze plasma from a single side, CSF61 freezes from both sides.
• Plasma bag integrity: plasma bag damage is reported to be below 1%, with CSF61 displaying lower damage than other equipment.

Usage profile and institutional benefits

The CSF61 is used daily to freeze plasma. Benefits include faster operation, reduced energy expenditure, and a lower rate of plasma bag destruction. Ergonomics has been noted as an area for potential improvement.

Partnership and procurement experience

The institute regards B Medical Systems as a trustworthy partner. Acquisition originated through a local distributor during a tender, and service performance has been satisfactory.

Engagement duration and satisfaction

HZTM has been a B Medical Systems customer since late 2021, a two-year relationship. Overall satisfaction is high, with plans to add more CSF units in the future.

Recommendation

HZTM would recommend B Medical Systems based on performance and service.