Bio Products Laboratory

Plasma-derived products
Every year, the NHS uses vast quantities of vital plasma-derived products to help safeguard the lives of its patients:

What often goes unrecognised is that nearly half of these products are supplied by Bio Products Laboratory (BPL), the UK’s biggest supplier of life-saving plasma-derived products. BPL is a not-for-profit organisation, operating within the NHS, being wholly owned by the British Government and overseen by the National Blood Authority, which directly reports to the Department of Health.

BPL’s heritage
BPL was born out of the world-renowned Lister Institute medical research charity and has been part of the NHS for over 50 years. With this pedigree, it has grown into a modern, technologically-advanced organisation equipped with state-of-the-art facilities sited at Elstree near London

Global supplies
With plasma in short supply globally, BPL is committed to providing a continuous supply of plasma-derived products that both save and enhance people’s lives, as well as ongoing and responsive support to health professionals throughout the world. As a government-owned organisation, BPL is able to operate with security and stability, giving its customers a high degree of confidence in its integrity and quality of its plasma-derived products. BPL also has the initiative required to move with ever-changing needs and markets.

US source
Because of this, BPL has been using US plasma since 1998, allaying concerns over any theoretical risk posed by the vCJD association with UK plasma. Furthermore, the long-term supply of non-UK derived plasma was secured for all BPL customers in 2003 with the acquisition by the Department of Health of Life Resources Incorporated, the largest remaining independent US plasma collector. The US collects 60 per cent of the world’s plasma, making it the most secure and reliable source.

Safety
BPL has an excellent safety record acknowledged around the world. It maintains the highest possible standards of service and supply by continuing to invest heavily in research and development. Its team of over 50 graduate and post-doctorate researchers are engaged in a wide variety of tasks including developing new plasma-derived products, making further safety improvements and pursuing an evaluation programme of viral inactivation and removal.

Technology
BPL’s Research and Development Department works closely with University and Research Institute Departments, and has an excellent track record of turning fundamental science into products. The team is constantly on the lookout for inventions to enhance its portfolio and currently has an interest in the following areas:

Support
Finally, BPL has learned that supplying products alone is not always enough. It works closely with health professionals involved in the care of haemophilia patients, listening to their needs and supporting them with information and educational materials about its plasma-derived products, in addition to the wider issues surrounding haemophilia. A recent round table conference for haemophilia nurses resulted in praise for the company’s efforts to understand and communicate with these professionals as well as giving reassurance about its commitment to the safety of its products.

The organisation has also developed a wide range of reference literature and support materials to assist patient groups directly as they come to terms with coping with their illness.

Bio Products Laboratory
Dagger Lane
Elstree
Hertfordshire WD6 3BX
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 208 258 2342
Fax: +44 (0) 208 258 2604
Web: www.bpl.co.uk

 

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