FAQs
Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) is said to exist when the foal’s serum gammaglobulin level (specifically IgG) is less that 400 – 800 mg/dl. If this diagnosis is made before the foal is 12 – 18 hours of age, oral supplementation using good quality colostrum may be beneficial. If the foal is older than 12 – 18 hours old, the gut is no longer able to efficiently absorb the antibodies from an oral supplement. In this case, an intravenous transfusion of high-quality equine plasma, such as Hypermune™ or Hypermune™-RE should be considered. We recommend a minimum of 800 mg/dl of IgG for protection in most instances.
Commercial plasma from VIL is proven to be safe and effective and is licensed by the VMD. We have developed hyperimmunisation strategies to provide antibodies to common neonatal pathogens in our plasma products. Hypermune™ or Hypermune™-RE are fresh frozen plasma products that have not been altered in any way.
VIL produces VMD-licensed plasma with high levels of antibodies to specific organisms, as well as providing plasma with a range of antibodies against common neonatal pathogens. Hypermune™-RE is a plasma product with high titers to Rhodococcus equi. This product is recommended to protect foals less than 6 months of age against respiratory disease associated with Rhodococcus equi. We suggest an initial dose be given to your foal on its first day of life and a second dose 3-4 weeks later if you are in an endemic area.
Please send us an email or call our office to place an order.
Hypermune™ equine plasma products are stored frozen at –20 to -30°C until shipped. The plasma is packed in insulated boxes to remain frozen while in transit. Whenever possible, next-day delivery service is used.
Validation studies using digital data loggers have confirmed that even a single litre retains a frozen core temperature at 24 hours in our packaging. Multiples of up to 5 litres remain frozen longer than that, up to 48 hours and more depending on ambient temperatures.
If plasma arrives partially or even completely thawed it will not have deteriorated and can be refrozen. Validated stability studies have been satisfactorily completed on thawed plasma stored at +4°C for 20 days. However, it is not recommended that bags which have been thawed and warmed to body temperature are re-frozen.
Hypermune™ products expire two years after collection.
Although the defined storage temperature is –25°C ±5°C it is acceptable to store the frozen product in a domestic freezer at –18°C. It is also very important that the plasma is kept in its original packaging in a dedicated box, basket or other suitable container in the freezer to ensure it is not bumped or knocked inadvertently. In this way, damage occurring to the plastic of the plasma bag, which can become brittle at low storage temperatures, is avoided.
Instructions on thawing are provided on the package insert. Hypermune™ products have a very high content of proteins which are easily denatured by excess heat.
Hypermune™ products should not be exposed to temperatures above 40°C.
It is absolutely essential to use a 200 micron filtered blood-giving set, which has a large mesh filter. This will trap any cryoprecipitate or fibrin strands clots and thus permit a smooth transfusion.
Adverse reactions to plasma products are extremely rare in both human and veterinary transfusion medicine. It is essential, however, before using Hypermune™ or Hypermune™-RE to read the package insert very carefully.
It is essential that administration is slow and careful monitoring takes place throughout the transfusion. Veterinary Immunogenics Ltd has sponsored independent safety studies in compliance with regulatory requirements. It has also gathered data from field studies and much anecdotal evidence all of which confirm the safety of Hypermune products even when transfusions are repeated at short or relatively long intervals.
Yes, but please contact us so that we can ensure that you receive plasma from a donor that does not have anti-donkey factors.
Yes. There are a number of donors which consistently give plasma with a green tinge which is not significant.
Numerous small “white/grey” lumps which sink in the plasma are usually the result of excess heat denaturing the proteins and therefore should not be used. Stringy strands of mucoid material floating in the plasma will tend to block the filter in the giving set if used. In extreme cases, the bag will be requested to be returned for investigation, and a report will be issued by Veterinary Immunogenics.
A bag which has showed a leak when thawed should not be used. If the bag was received broken, please contact VIL immediately and have the batch number and expiration date available.
