Secure, inert, high integrity packaging for the supply of valuable blood products

Blood transfusion is a routine and essential element of effective health care, but human blood is also processed to manufacture a wide range of extremely valuable derivatives. Labile blood components - plasma, platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells - may all be delivered as single donor products for direct transfusion; plasma derived medicines include polyvalent and specific immunoglobulins, albumin and blood coagulation factors. These may be used to treat diseases of the immune system, hemophilia, hepatitis, cirrhosis amongst many others. Increased awareness of blood and plasma donation, along with aging populations and an increased prevalence of life-threatening disorders such as hemophilia are driving growth in the use of blood plasma derivatives.

Blood derivatives are largely delivered parenterally. Key glass packaging products include injectable vials and infusion bottles with many blood plasma medicines supplied as liquids.

Critical features of glass packaging for this market include:

• Chemical stability, glass is inherently inert with barrier treatments further enhancing this characteristic
• Clarity, for ease of inspection during entire drug life cycle (from production to administration by a nurse)
• Excellent resistance to variations in temperature
• Mature filling and closing technology, high container closure integrity (CCI).

SGD Pharma offers a wide range of molded glass products directly specified to meet the demanding requirements of blood derivatives products and the fill and finish processes associated with their delivery. These products underpin our reputation and preferred supplier status with leading companies within this sector. Type II glass, soda-lime-silica or regular soda lime glass with inner surfaces treated with sulfur, offers a good balance between cost and performance for many blood and blood derivative applications. However, Type I glass is the preferences for others.