Low‐cost protocol for the production of autologous serum eye drops by blood collection and processing centres for the treatment of ocular surface diseases

Abstract

Efforts should be made to propagate a similar protocol for the production of ASEs in blood centres capable of collecting and processing blood products, making this service affordable and uniformly accessible to patients.

Autologous serum eye drops for dry eye

“…It has been reported that AS can be used safely in both outpatient and inpatient settings, under a strict protocol of preparation and storage (Langnado 2004; Partal 2011). However, even though AS are prepared under sterile conditions on an individual patient basis, researchers have noted risks for contamination and consequent infection during preparation, storage, and use of the drops (Geerling 2004; Lee 2008).…”

Autologous serum eye drops for dry eye

“…It is reported that AS can be used safely in an outpatient as well as inpatient setting, under a strict protocol of preparation and storage (Langnado 2004; Partal 2011). However, even though AS are prepared under sterile conditions on an individual patient basis, there are risks for contamination, and consequent infection, during the preparation, storage, and use of the drops (Geerling 2004; Lee 2008).…”

Blood-derived topical therapy for ocular surface diseases

“…More importantly, TGF-β concentrations are five times higher in serum than in tears 6. Therefore, many ophthalmologists prefer to use a 20% dilution of ASE to more closely match the TGF-β concentration in natural tears in order to prevent problems with epithelial cell proliferation 3 40 44…”

“…Liu and colleagues determined that a long clotting time (>120 min), centrifugation at 3000g for 15 min and dilution with balanced salt solution at 12.5–25% best supported cell proliferation, migration and differentiation of corneal epithelial cells 50. Based on this work, Partal and Scott44 proposed a low-cost protocol that would adhere to the US Food and Drug Administration requirements for ophthalmic use of autologous blood products. The estimated cost to supply 3 months of ASE to a patient in a safe manner, excluding costs of microbial testing, was US$195.19.…”