Irradiation of blood & blood products by gamma rays is a proven and safe method to inhibit T-Lymphocyte Proliferation and eliminate the risk of post transfusion graft versus host disease (T-GVHD). Gamma irradiation of cellular blood components is the best current technology to reduce the risk of T-GVHD to the recipients as confirmed by research and therefore being widely practiced world over in hospitals and blood banks as a life saving approach to this problem. Blood is usually irradiated in standard blood bags in dedicated blood irradiators using cobalt-60 or caesium-137 radioactive source. The usual recommended radiation doses are 25 Gy to 35 Gy (1 Gy = 100 rad) for this purposes.

BRIT has designed and developed a dedicated blood irradiator called Blood Irradator-2000 (Bl-2000). It is a self-shielded, compact and versatile Gamma Irradiator which can house cobalt-60 source upto 25 TBq (675 Curies). It provides a dose rate of about 11 Gy/minute approximately inside the sample chamber. It is incorporated with a sample rotating mechanism to obtain better uniformity of dose to the products. The control system is PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) based with touch sensitive color screen using user-friendly software and a printer for data recording.

The unit can be installed in a room without any additional shielding. Its design conforms to all relevant national and international standards and safety codes. It meets the requirement of Type B(U) package for transportation.

• Safe and self shielded: No additional shielding is required. The radiation field on the external surface of the unit is much below the permissible level.

• Dose uniformity: Sample rotation mechanism and stationary source pencils symmetrically placed in a cylindrical cage ensure good uniformity of radiation field within 25% variation or better.

• Control system: PLC based control system with touch sensitive color screen having user friendly software and printer for data recording.

• Computerised calculations of dose and termination of irradiation based on time as well as dose modes with Cobalt-60 source decay correction.

• Sensing & display of irradiation temperature on the panel.

• Sample chamber door inter lock for safety operation.

• Manual control of irradiation temperature inside sample chamber.

• Design conforms to codes of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), India, as well as American National Standards - ANSI-N433.1-1977 for safe design and use of self contained dry source storage Gamma irradiator (Category-I).

• Safety assurance: The unit is type B(U) approved by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), India for safety in transport of radioactive material as per relevant national and international safety standards.

• Source Replenishment and Servicing: BRIT will undertake servicing and source replenishment whenever required.

• Source Disposal: BRIT will also take up source disposal as and when required.

• Refrigerator will be provided along with unit for storing blood bags at low temperature.