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 °C for 5 days and 4±2 °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±0.74×1011 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±0.56×105 and the residual leukocyte content of the RBC product was 0.28±0.02×105. 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.