Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) in Blood Collection, Storage, and Transfusion: Clinical, Laboratory, and Regulatory Perspectives for the Present and Future

Proposed Session Description: Safe delivery of blood products depends on coordinated work across laboratory, clinical, and blood center teams. Polyvinyl chloride blood collection systems plasticized with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) remain widely used because of their established ability to stabilize red blood cells, minimize hemolysis, and support reliable storage performance and shelf life. These advantages explain why DEHP-containing systems have persisted as the standard for decades. However, growing toxicologic, environmental, and regulatory concerns have prompted renewed scrutiny and interest in alternative plasticizers.
This session will provide a balanced, evidence-based review of DEHP use in blood collection and storage. Presenters will examine both the scientific rationale supporting continued use and the emerging data that raise safety and policy considerations. Discussion will extend beyond materials science to address translational realities, including validation requirements, regulatory pathways, manufacturing constraints, supply continuity, and operational readiness for blood centers and hospitals considering material transitions.
A central focus will be clinical equivalence. Attendees will review comparative evidence evaluating whether alternative plasticizers can match current performance expectations for cellular quality, metabolic stability, hemolysis parameters, and shelf life. By integrating laboratory, clinical, manufacturing, and regulatory perspectives, this session will equip participants with a practical framework for assessing risk–benefit tradeoffs and making informed decisions about blood collection technologies within their institutions.