SunCoast Blood Centers strengthens blood supply in Southwest Florida with FDA-cleared automation from Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies

• Founded on Valentine’s Day in 1949, SunCoast Blood Centers is the first blood center in Florida and the ninth in the U.S. to adopt the Reveos™ Automated Blood Processing System.

LAKEWOOD, Colo., USA - February 12, 2026 – As demand for blood components continues to rise across the United States [1], SunCoast Blood Centers has implemented FDA-cleared whole blood automation from Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT), a medical technology company and global leader in blood management solutions, to help strengthen the blood supply for hospitals and patients across Southwest Florida.

Founded on Valentine’s Day in 1949, SunCoast Blood Centers is the first blood center in Florida and the ninth in the U.S. to adopt the Reveos™ Automated Blood Processing System and the Lumia™ Software Platform. 

Collecting more than 35,000 units of blood each year, SunCoast provides blood to 14 hospitals across four Southwest Florida counties. This milestone highlights the organization’s continued growth and innovation as it approaches its 77th year of serving patients and hospitals in the region. 

Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, Reveos is the only whole blood automation device available in the U.S. that separates whole blood into red blood cells, plasma and platelets in a single, fully automated centrifugation cycle. The technology has been used globally for more than a decade. 

“Our responsibility is to ensure hospitals have access to safe, high-quality blood products when patients need them most,” said Scott Bush, CEO of SunCoast Blood Centers. “As healthcare demands increase across Southwest Florida, automation plays a critical role in helping us deliver consistent products, operate more efficiently and remain prepared for trauma, cancer care and other urgent clinical needs — even as conditions, staffing and demand fluctuate.” 

Improving platelet availability for patients 

Platelets are a vital but time-sensitive blood component, commonly used to treat patients undergoing cancer, surgery or emergency care [2]. Historically, separating platelets from whole blood has relied on manual, multi-step processes that require significant hands-on time and can introduce variability [3].

Reveos automates much of this workflow, helping blood centers produce more consistent platelet pools while optimizing staff time. 

“Automation has changed how we operate,” said Michele Moyers, Product Manufacturing Manager at SunCoast Blood Centers. “We’re seeing greater consistency in platelet products, which means more of each donation can be used to support patient care. When every minute counts, that reliability matters — both for our team and the hospitals we serve.” 

Advancing blood processing to support better health outcomes 

Across the U.S., blood centers are facing increasing pressure from staffing constraints, donor variability and rising platelet demand [1]. Whole blood automation is emerging as a way to strengthen blood supply infrastructure while supporting better health outcomes at scale. 

“Blood is essential medicine, and it can only come from donors,” said Chetan Makam, General Manager of Global Blood Solutions at Terumo BCT. “By pairing donor generosity with whole blood automation, SunCoast Blood Centers is maximizing the impact of every donation — improving consistency and helping ensure patients have access to the care they need, when they need it.”  

About the Reveos​ Automated Blood Processing System 

The Reveos Automated Blood Processing System is designed to help blood centers maximize the impact of every donation for patients facing trauma, cancer, surgery and other medical procedures. By automating how whole blood is processed, Reveos helps blood centers improve consistency, operate more efficiently and support a reliable blood supply for hospitals and patients. 

Traditionally, whole blood units have been separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets through manual, multi-step processes that require significant hands-on time and can introduce variability [3]. Reveos simplifies this workflow by automating key steps — including balancing, centrifugation, expression, sealing and data capture — eliminating more than half of the 26 manual steps. 

By standardizing blood component production, Reveos supports a more dependable blood supply. The system has been used globally for more than a decade. 

Availability varies by region and country. Reveos™ and Lumia™ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Terumo BCT, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. See TerumoBCT.com/Trademarks​ for details.  

About SunCoast Blood Centers 

Founded in 1949, SunCoast Blood Centers is a local, nonprofit community blood center dedicated to saving lives through the gift of blood donation. Serving hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout Southwest Florida, SunCoast provides a safe and reliable blood supply while advancing cutting-edge therapies. With a focus on donor experience, patient care and community partnerships, SunCoast Blood Centers continues to support the region through six donor centers, mobile drives and life-saving innovation. 

About Terumo BCT 

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a medical technology company. Our products, software and services enable customers to collect and prepare blood and cells to help treat challenging diseases and conditions. Our employees worldwide believe in the potential of blood and cells to do even more for patients than they do today. This belief inspires our innovation and strengthens our collaboration with customers. 

Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies' customers include blood centers, hospitals, therapeutic apheresis clinics, cell collection and processing organizations, researchers and private medical practices. Our customers are based in over 160 countries across the globe. We have 750+ granted patents, with more than 150 additionally pending.  

We have global headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A., along with four regional headquarters, eight manufacturing sites and seven innovation and development centers across the globe. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a subsidiary of Terumo Corporation (TSE: 4543), a global leader in medical technology. 

[1] American Red Cross. Red Cross declares severe shortage after blood supply falls 35% in past month. Accessed January 20, 2026. www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2026/red-cross-declares-shortage-after-blood-supply-falls-35-.html?srsltid=AfmBOoocFlezc8aq2DLNLEYOuhGdqEDqYNjz3L7cVfmMQDP8pb660jDn  

[2] American Red Cross. What are platelets? Accessed January 20, 2026. www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/types-of-blood-donations/platelet-donation/donate-platelets-for-cancer.html  

[3] Cid J, Comasòlivas N, Pérez-Aliaga A, Illingworth N, Cardoso M. Comparison of automated versus semi-automated whole blood processing systems: A systematic review. Vox Sang. 2023;118(4):263-271. https://doi.org/10.1111/vox.13400