MAY 5–EAST HILLS, N.Y.–Pall Corp. received Food and Drug Administration approval for a new filtration system, Leukotrap WB, which collects, filters and stores whole blood without the need for “burping,” or manually squeezing, the bag to remove air.

The new system, known as Sterile Air Ventilation Elimination, or SAVE, does that process automatically.

Pall Medical President Roberto E. Perez said the new system was a “significant improvement” to previous filtration techniques. This, combined with other new enhancements, could lead to added sales for Pall’s whole blood filtration system, which is already one of the company’s top three sellers.

“We expect that we are going to get a significant increase, but we’re going to have to wait to see how the market will take it,” Perez said.The Leukotrap system will be available to blood centers by the end of the month, he said.