Clean Modules completes groundbreaking Cord Blood Centre for the Anthony Nolan Trust
UK company Clean Modules has completed the purpose-designed Anthony Nolan Trust Cord Blood Centre.
The new £1.4m (€1.8m) centre at Nottingham Trent University's Clifton campus includes a processing facility and a cryogenic storage facility. It is the first combined blood bank and research centre in the UK and the first of its kind to be run outside London.
It will provide stem cell donations from umbilical cords and placentas for people with cancer and life-threatening bone marrow conditions. The trust aims to store 50,000 cord blood samples by 2013, of which 20,000 would be suitable for transplantation, and 30,000 for research.
The fully validated facility complies with the latest EU GMP and GLP requirements. It houses a 50m² Grade D cryogenic storage area with three liquid nitrogen storage vessels and racking systems for the storage of the blood samples; a 25m² Grade D distribution area with a Class II laminar air flow cabinet for the testing of the blood samples; and a 25m² Grade C processing area for preparing the storage of the blood samples. Additionally, there are 70m² of support areas including technical administration, an archive, a meeting room and a utility area.
To meet with the GLP requirements covering blood storage, Clean Modules installed a complete facility monitoring system validated to GAMP4 and 21 CFR Part 11. This sophisticated computer-controlled data acquisition and monitoring system continuously checks particle levels, room pressures, temperature and humidity in the cleanrooms.
The facility has also been fitted with a Trend Building Management System (BMS) to control the air handling system, an oxygen monitoring system and a temperature control monitoring system for the liquid nitrogen storage vessels and freezers to ensure conditions are optimised for blood preservation. These three monitoring systems have been linked in with the FMS, which is covered by an alarm system in case of any variation outside the set parameters.
“Clean Modules’ expertise in design, project management and construction has given us a facility that will save thousands of lives,” said Dr Sergio Querol, head of cord blood services at the Anthony Nolan Trust.