New blood treatment could make transfusions safer for heart surgery

NCT ID NCT03459287

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Cerus Corporation Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested a special way to treat donated red blood cells to kill germs, called the INTERCEPT Blood System. It involved 581 people having complex heart surgery who needed blood transfusions. The goal was to see if this treated blood is as safe and works as well as regular blood, especially for kidney health.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Pathogen-reduced red blood cells (INTERCEPT Blood System)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could provide a safer blood transfusion option for patients undergoing heart surgery, reducing the risk of infections from donated blood.
What could go wrong: This is a completed Phase 3 trial, but the main focus is on kidney safety rather than a cure. The intervention is a blood processing method, not a new drug, so the impact is limited to transfusion safety.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anemia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ANEMIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Bridgeport Hospital

Bridgeport, Connecticut, 06610, United States
Duke University Health System

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
Emory

Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
Henry Ford Health System

Detroit, Michigan, 48202, United States
Houston Methodist

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Mayo-Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
Rhode Island Hospital

Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States
Stanford

Stanford, California, 94305, United States
Temple

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140, United States
University of California Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
University of Colorado Hospital

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky, 40356, United States
University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
University of Texas Southwestern

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
University of Virginia Health System

Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, United States
Yale New Haven Hospital

New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.