Concurrent collection of in-line filtered platelets and red blood cells by apheresis

Multicomponent apheresis procedures offer the possibility to collect standardized blood components as compared to whole blood donations. A new program for the concurrent collection of platelets (PLTs) and red blood cells (RBCs) was evaluated in a prospective study. Apheresis donors ( n=18) underwent concurrent collection of PLTs and RBCs using the Haemonetics MCS+ blood cell separator. Aliquots of PLTs and RBCs were collected during five to six passes of the discontinuous flow procedure. The platelet product was in-line filtered during the last pass of the separation procedure. After collection, saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol (SAGM) preservative solution was automatically added to the RBCs. Thereafter, the RBCs were in-line leukodepleted by gravity filtration at room temperature. The PLTs and RBCs were subsequently stored at 22+/-2 degrees C for 5 days and 4+/-2 degrees C for 35 days, respectively. The following in vitro parameters were evaluated over the storage periods: blood cell counts, glucose, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, pH, plasma hemoglobin, and potassium. Two ready-to-use blood components from one donor were collected in an average procedure time of 86+/-10 min; 2.47+/-0.74 x 10(11) PLTs were collected in a product volume of 232+/-43 ml. The RBC volume averaged 280+/-20 ml and the hemoglobin content was 56.8+/-2.4 g per unit. The leukocyte contamination of the platelet product was 0.44+/-0.56 x 10(5) and the residual leukocyte content of the RBC product was 0.28+/-0.02 x 10(5). Storage data showed no relevant drop in pH. Day 35 results of the RBC products showed that all of the units had less than 0.8% hemolysis. Standardized PLT and RBC products of good quality can be concurrently collected with the MCS+ blood cell separator. In vitro testing of the products collected and stored for 5 and 35 days, respectively, met the Council of Europe criteria for leukodepleted blood products.