Inactivation of pathogens in ex vivo blood products in storage bags using visible light

A method for inactivating pathogens in ex vivo stored blood products, comprising:

• providing a blood product storage bag having an at least partially light-transparent flexible wall;
• filling the storage bag with a blood product from at least one donor, wherein the blood product comprises blood plasma or platelet concentrates, wherein the blood product in the storage bag is free of an added photosensitizing agent, and wherein the blood product fills the storage bag to at least 50% of a full capacity of the storage bag;
• sealing the storage bag after filling the storage bag with the blood product;
• after sealing the storage bag, placing the filled and sealed storage bag inside a treatment chamber comprising a light source;
• after placing the filled and sealed storage bag inside a treatment chamber, causing the light source to emit light having a wavelength range centered around 405 nm, with at least 90% of the light having a wavelength within 10 nm of 405 nm, wherein the emitted light penetrates through the wall of the storage bag and into the blood product, wherein the light reaching the blood product inside the storage bag has an irradiance in a range from 3 mW/cm2 to 80 mW/cm2, and wherein the light reaching the blood product inside storage bag inactivates pathogens in the blood product without detrimentally effecting the blood product;
• and
• after inactivating pathogens in the blood product in the sealed storage bag in the treatment chamber, coupling the sealed storage bag to a patient, unsealing the storage bag, and then transfusing the blood product from the unsealed storage bag into the patient.