Walking Blood Bank
A walking blood bank (WBB) is a transfusion strategy where available, compatible whole blood, whether banked or urgently collected from a donor, is transfused to a patient after transfusion-transmitted infection (HIV, Syphilis, HBV, HCV etc.) screening using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). This emergency process is employed in situations where there is no access to laboratory-screened blood within the timeframe needed to ensure a patient’s survival. Often, this may be because the screening results for a compatible banked unit of blood are unavailable, or because the blood bank is completely devoid of any compatible blood. WBB can provide screened, compatible blood for transfusion in a timely fashion, by activating an existing, pre-screened donor community to procure blood if needed and utilizing RDTs for transfusion-transmitted infectious agent (TTIA) screening.
Eldon Biologicals is working with its partners in Ukraine (DonorUA and Yashchenko Foundation) to develop and expand a WBB in Ukraine. For further information see Walking Blood Bank – saving lives in Ukraine.
Working with partners to promote safe pregnancies
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) occurs when a woman experiences excessive bleeding after childbirth, posing significant risks to her health and life. Death from PPH is largely preventable and has been nearly eliminated in high-income countries. Yet women in low- and middle-income countries continue to be disproportionately affected. Most maternal deaths from PPH occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Eldon Biologicals is committed to working with partners to prevent women from dying needlessly from this preventable condition. We support blood donor mobilization based on ABO blood type testing and Rhesus factor determination with the ELDONCARD®. We are proud to support the (End Postpartum Hemorrhage Project) in Kenya. The PPH Project is dedicated to tackling the global issue of postpartum hemorrhage and prevent women across the country from dying from what is still a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity.
The overall objective is to support the global aspirations of the SGDs, address key PPH priorities, and to reinforce the global efforts to fast-track progress towards SDG target 3.1.
Eldon Biologicals is deeply committed to the eradication of Rhesus disease.
It is estimated that 50,000 fetuses and 114,000 newborns worldwide die annually from Rhesus (Rh) disease, a condition that in more developed countries is routinely diagnosed, treated, and prevented.
Rhesus disease is a condition where antibodies in a pregnant woman’s blood destroy her baby’s blood cells. It’s also known as haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). While Rhesus disease doesn’t harm the mother, it can cause the baby to become anemic and develop newborn jaundice. Rhesus disease has a mortality rate of up to 24% in newborns. Women who are Rh negative and are pregnant with a baby whose father is Rh positive are at risk for this condition.
Rhesus disease can easily be prevented by the routine screening of pregnant women. If a mother is known to be at risk for Rh disease, a health care provider can use a prescription medication called anti-D (Rh) immunoglobulin. This injection is typically given twice during the pregnancy to prevent the mother’s immune system from attacking the child’s blood cells. One injection is typically at the 28-week mark of pregnancy and the other is shortly after the child’s birth. It may be given earlier in pregnancy or more than twice if there are any extra risk factors. This medication is very well tolerated.
By making this simple, cheap, POC test available millions of women and men can be screened for Rhesus status and receive appropriate immunoprophylaxis, which will indeed have a profound “measurable impact” by saving maybe more than 150,000 lives annually.
Eldon has developed a special Rhesus card to use in birth centres, birth clinics and abortion clinics.
Partners for healthy pregnancies:
Eldon Biologicals is Advancing Employment for People Living with Disabilities
Eldon Biologicals is, through its cooperation with several protected workplaces, providing opportunities for genuine employment for people living with disabilities. At present, Eldon Biologicals is cooperating with seven different partners in a shared effort to provide meaningful employment for people living with different disabilities.
We Produce EldonCards Using 100 Percent Renewable Energy
All the energy (electricity) Eldon Biologicals uses in the production of EldonCards, as well as the other energy needs it has at its Headquarters in Gentofte is produced from 100 percent renewable sources. Eldon Biologicals sources its energy from “Natur-Energi”, that delivers green energy to all their customers.
