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BD Introduces New Product to Reduce the Risk of Sepsis

Becton, Dickinson and Company BDX, popularly known as BD, recently introduced BD BACTEC platelet control media that will enable microbiology laboratories, blood banks and transfusion services in the identification of contaminated platelet units. This new quality control media is likely to significantly broaden the scope of the company’s BACTEC portfolio.

The company is optimistic about reducing the occurrence of sepsis among patients requiring blood transfusion following the introduction of this product. BD also claims that this new quality control media will decrease the patient’s expenses owing to sepsis.

BD BACTEC platelet control media, which is an FDA cleared product, will help in carrying on the company’s legacy in providing specific and cost-effective solutions through BD BACTEC portfolio.

Platelet Transfusion and Sepsis at a Glance

Platelet transfusion is a process wherein platelets are transferred to patients having low platelet counts or those who have platelet dysfunction and are bleeding or at a high risk of bleeding.

Going by Sepsis Alliance’s definition, sepsis is a typical response of body to infection which can prove life threatening. More specifically, this is body’s overactive and toxic response to an infection which primarily results from contaminated blood transfusion.

BD BACTEC Platelet Control Media

The newly introduced product is part of an all-inclusive solution that leverages the automated BD BACTEC FX technology and BD Synapsys microbiology informatics solution. These in turn help laboratories to cater to the culture-based platelet testing requirements.

Clinicians are set to benefit from this product as it will help in lowering the risk of sepsis through culture-based methodology to identify platelet contamination.

Industry Prospect

Platelets are more susceptible to bacterial contamination owing to storage conditions. In comparison to any other transfusable blood component, platelets have a higher risk of sepsis and any associated fatality.

With respect to detection of bacterial contamination in platelet donations, the guidelines and protocols issued by The World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) is likely to lower septic transfusion reactions and related fatalities by an estimated range of 50-70%.

According to a report published by Reuters, increasing number of blood transfusions, rising prevalence of rare infectious diseases and growing elderly population base will drive the demand for platelets and plasma. Per this report, Platelets and Plasma Market will exceed $6.5 billion by 2024.

Benefits of the Innovation

The addition of the product will boost BD Life Sciences segment, which primarily deals in products for the safe collection and transfer of diagnostic specimens along with instruments and reagent systems to identify a wide range of infectious diseases, healthcare-associated (HAIs) and cancers.

In the context of enhancement of this segment, the launch of BD’s new automated flow cytometry sample preparation instrument with CE-IVD certification deserves a special mention.

Zacks Rank and Share Price Movement

BD carries a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell).

Year to date, the stock has underperformed the industry. The stock has gained 11.4% compared with the industry’s growth of 12.8%. The current level is also lower than the S&P 500 Index’s 14.9% increase.



Key Picks

Some better-ranked stocks from the same space are The Cooper Companies, Inc. COO, Invacare Corporation IVC and DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. XRAY. Each of these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Cooper Companies has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10.8%.

Invacare Corporation has earnings growth rate of 29.3% for the next quarter.

DENTSPLY SIRONA has a long-term earnings growth rate of 9.6%.

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