31 July 2024

We have had the Spectra Optia therapy machine for nearly 2 years now and it has become an established and vital piece of equipment. The Spectra has been used 68 times for Total Plasma Exchange (TPE) on 11 different patients to help treat serious and complex renal, haematological and neurotological conditions. These situations are often medical emergencies and require shift action. The Spectra is much quicker and easier to get a treatment started than our conventional TPE machines that use a membranous filter. Moreover, all 68 sessions performed with the Spectra have been completed without complications, whereas using the membrane-based machines often result in complications from filter clotting and need to be restated.

Renal Advanced Nurse Practitioner Manny Ollet (pictured) said “Centrifugal TPE machines such as Spectra Optia are much easier to use than membrane based TPE,  they have less clotting incidents and can tolerate high pressure access, hence complete the therapy with less hassle , safety and efficiently.”

The spectra uses a large centrifugal drum to separate a patient’s blood by molecular weight (pictured) the lighter plasma is removed and replaced with donated fresh frozen plasma or human albumin solution.

Renal Consultant Mark Uniacke said of the Spectra “Using centrifugal therapy is a superior and more cost effective treatment that our standard membranous machines and we aim to increase the number of Spectra machines in use to make it our primary option for plasma exchange.

Tabitha, the last patient to receive treatment with the Spectra in July, couldn’t believe how expensive the machine was and said “she was very grateful that it had purchased with charitable funds."