RapAdmin,
No discount. Exactly $6000 for each TPE. A huge subsidy to the clinic. The cost must go down, as you have written about.
Do you have any idea if TPE with most plasma removed is available in Russia, from the communication a few years ago with the biohackers? The plasma dilution done in Russia as per the recent thread seems to be below the volume threshold needed to be effective.
Yes, the volume was low as @DrT has reported getting TPE in Russia (a little easier for him since it sounds like he lives there). Not sure if Americans or Europeans will be venturing to Russia for any sort of medical treatments any time soon given the relationship currently, and the war in Ukraine right now - but it could open up at some point.
But, I suspect another problem is going to become evident and that is the issue of medical supplies from western companies, for western Plasmapheresis equipment. Since these companies operate on a ārazors and razorbladesā type of business model, they make their money off the tubing and related supplies that are used for each TPE treatment. I suspect these supplies are getting hard to find, and more expensive in Russia. Increasingly they will likely turn to Chinese suppliers for this type of thing, but I donāt believe there are any Chinese companies who have much marketshare in this segment of the market ā¦ so this could be an ongoing issue.
See here for DrTās experience of Plasmapheresis in Russia: Plasma Dilution
I reached out to the Biohackers in Russia who did the TPE by way of Leon Peshkin at Harvard. Leon is a helpful and positive guy, and said heād forward the message to the Russian biohackers - but I never did hear back from them.
Perhaps our resident Russian doctor (@DrT ) can reach out to the biohackers and see if they are moving forward with doing more of the TPE routines with more frequency and more data?
@DrT here is the thread and contact info for the Russian TPE biohackers: Irina Conboy Plasmapheresis Webinar - #41 by RapAdmin
Yeah, Iām aware of the āBiohackersā. They seem to keep everyone at armās length. I checked in on their website and it looks like there hasnāt been much activity for a while. Certainly no reply to any questions about the plasma dilution for a couple of years. Quite frankly, I couldnāt be bothered chasing secretive people.
There may well be a clinic in Moscow that offers such services to āThe Elitesā but it wouldnāt be easy to find, unless you are one of āThe Elites.
Dobri Kiprov charges $6000. What price would be reasonable for you?
FWIW
The disposable cost are less than $600.00 per treatment.
Nice markup, if you can get it!
Cheeze Louize!!
I would feel comfortable paying two thousand dollars for TPE and would do this as often as I find it beneficial. For three thousand I would have to think about the frequency.
I just learned new information about plasmapheresis. Phthalates can leach from the IV fluid bags. Is this of concern?
FWIW
This is not new, in everything purchased, used and consumed.
And it is not good
I obtained the following info from a Haemonetics specialist:
The PCS2 is being discontinued. Likely within 12 months from now, they will stop servicing them, and stop manufacturing consumables (tubing kits, citrate, bags etc). All PCS2 units in the field are being replaced with the newer NexSys PCS. Also they wouldnāt be selling the consumables directly to individuals; they would have to carry out extensive due dilligence to make sure the individual who takes the responsibility is adequately trained in the risks, etc. at which point the bureaucracy becomes too impractical.
It seems that knock off disposable kits compatible with PCS2 are available from Chinese manufacturers, but would carry a risk of improper sterilisation (which can cause contamination) and technical faults (which can cause hemolysis, air embolism).