Government of UK Announces Decision to Remove Leukocytes from All Blood and Blood Products.

EAST HILLS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 1998--

United Kingdom joins many European countries in requirement to

filter all blood, states Pall Corporation, the world leader in

filtration technology

The United Kingdom announced its decision to require leukocyte (white blood cell) reduction of all units of blood and blood products derived from whole blood prior to transfusion into a patient. In a statement released today, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the National Health Service, Jeremy Metters, said, "Blood in the UK remains very safe and leukodepletion will make it safer." The United Kingdom joins Austria, France, Ireland, Norway, and Portugal, where leukocyte reduction by pre-filtration is already required or being implemented to protect the public health and safety, according to Pall Corporation, which applauded the decision.

Leukocyte filtration reduces white blood cells and the contaminants they carry. The UK decision was made primarily to protect its blood supply from possible contamination by a new variant of Creutzfeld Jakob Disease (nvCJD), which may be transmitted from one person to another by blood transfusion. nvCJD is always fatal.

Benefits of Leukocyte Reduction

"The decision of the UK to filter all blood to remove the white cells is a major step forward in protecting the safety of the blood supply," said Eric Krasnoff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pall Corporation. "There have already been 27 confirmed deaths from the terrible new disease, nvCJD. There are 25 known human viruses that reside solely in white cells. Filtration is an important line of defense against these diseases and, perhaps, the next as yet undiscovered virus to appear in the blood supply.

"It is critical for the United States to move quickly to adopt universal blood filtration," Mr. Krasnoff continued. "Currently about 17% of the blood is filtered in the US ... often for the sickest patients. The benefits of filtration should be extended to all of us now."

Transfusions with blood from donors other than the patient (called allogeneic transfusion) are associated with a wide variety of adverse effects. The leukocyte component of blood has been identified as a potent mediator of serious clinical complications, including: pathogen transmission, immune suppression, and platelet refractoriness.

The 25 known infectious agents -- both viral and bacterial -- are carried in the blood, yet donor blood is screened for only a few of them. Even the best screening methods are imperfect. This is important since a single donation of contaminated blood can infect many people. Many viruses are associated exclusively with leukocytes. White blood cells can serve as reservoirs and carriers of viruses and other infectious agents, including cytomegalovirus (CMV), Human T-cell Lymphotropic virus (HTLV), Epstein- Barr virus (EBV), and others. Leukocyte reduction has been frequently shown to reduce the number (load) of viruses and microorganisms in blood components. Pall s leukocyte reduction filters reduce the risk of transfusion transmission of those cell-associated pathogens.

There is increasing evidence that blood transfusions have a major impact on the immune system of patients undergoing surgery. Studies have shown that leukocyte reduction reduces transfusion-associated immune suppression and helps protect patients from post-surgical infection, reducing both morbidity and mortality. This also helps decrease the length of hospital stay and significantly decreases hospital costs.

Cancer patients, including leukemia and bone marrow transplant, who require platelet transfusion as a critical part of their treatment, can develop antibodies to their transfusion. It has been shown that leukocytes are responsible for the induction of these antibodies resulting in refractoriness (or rejection) to the transfusion. Filtration of leukocytes is a well-proven technique to help prevent this life-threatening complication, while also reducing the overall utilization of blood products and associated costs.

nvCJD and Blood: Possible Human-to-Human Transmission

There have been 27 reported cases of new variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease in the United Kingdom. All of the victims have died. No cases to date have been reported in the United States. Both nvCJD and CJD are considered transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE).

There has been increasing concern over the possible transmission of TSEs through blood products. Studies have shown that B lymphocytes (a type of leukocyte or white blood cell) may be a vector for infection. For this reason, many countries are taking the precautionary measure of filtering white blood cells from all blood to be used for transfusion.

Blood Filtration in the United States

In the United States, about 12 million units of blood are collected each year for the one in 20 people who will need a transfusion in their lifetime. Some 60 to 70 percent of platelet units and 20 percent of red blood cell units are pre-filtered by individual hospitals, which have made the decision to provide this extra measure of protection to their patients. Until recently, only patients considered at high risk were given filtered blood. Today, more and more hospitals are converting to 100 percent leukocyte reduction by filtration. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Blood Safety Committee and Congress are also reviewing the need to enhance the safety of the U.S. blood supply in relationship to new and emerging infectious agents.

About Pall

Pall Corporation is a leader in filtration technology with the broadest filtration and separations capabilities in the world. The company develops and manufactures filters that are used by a diverse, worldwide customer base, primarily in health care, aeropower, and fluid processing.

In health care, Pall's largest business segment, Pall filters are found in many aspects of medical and hospital practice, as well as in pharmaceutical manufacturing, making a valuable contribution to patient protection and raising the quality of patient care. Pall Corporation believes that all patients requiring a blood transfusion should be provided with the information they need to make an informed choice including a discussion with their physician on risks and benefits and transfusion options.

Pall Corporation, with annual sales over $1 billion, is based in East Hills, New York, and employs 9,000 people throughout the world. The Company's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (PLL) and the London Stock Exchange (0668260).

For more information on leukocyte reduction or for the booklet, "Knowing Your Options," please visit the consumer information web site underwritten by Pall Corporation at http://www.bloodtransfusion.com.

CONTACT: Pall Corporation, East Hills

Jeremy Hayward-Surry

516/484-5400