Quality and Safety of& ;Platelet Apheresis Concentrates Produced with a New Leukocyte Reduction System

Abstract

Objectives: Contaminating white blood cells (WBC) in apheresis platelet concentrates (PC) can cause a variety of adverse effects after platelet transfusion. To obtain PCs with low WBC contamination, a new leukoreduction system (LRS) utilizing ‘fluidized particle bed’ technology has recently been introduced. Methods: We prospectively examined the effect of LRS apheresis on the donor, the quality of the resulting PCs (n = 120), and the platelet increment in the corresponding recipients. Conventionally prepared apheresis PCs served as control group (n = 27). Platelet glycoproteins were examined by flow cytometry. Results: In LRS apheresis, we observed no serious adverse effects on the donors, but the postdonation absolute lymphocyte counts were reduced from 1,787±505/μl to 1,405±383/μl (p < 0.001). Comparable results were seen in non-LRS donors. The collection efficiency of the LRS procedures was 50.0±7.6%, resulting in a yield of 4.3±1.0 × 10¹¹ platelets/PC. In flow cytometry, platelet glycoproteins in LRS PCs were not elevated: mean fluorescence of CD62 (6±4) or CD63 (9±3) in comparison with non-LRS PCs (mean fluorescence of CD62: 7±4, CD63: 8±3). Median leukocyte contamination of the LRS PCs was 0.41 × 10⁵ (range 0.07–8.5) WBCs/unit. In 43 recipients, the 24-hour corrected count increments after transfusion of LRS PCs (12,530±8,761) were essentially the same as those of 20 recipients of non-LRS PCs (13,133±9,812; p = 0.75). Conclusions: LRS apheresis appears to be a safe procedure, which produced effective PCs with few contaminating leukocytes. With new apheresis technology, filtration of PCs may become superfluous.

Fuji surge technique and continuous in‐line filtration to improve the quality of single donor platelet concentrates

“…The present data are in line with those of Stiegler et al, who reported on a median CE of 68% and a PLT yield 4.11 · 10 11 [27]. CE obtained with the discontinuous flow separator MCS+ are similar to those of the Amicus blood cell separator [5][6][7] and higher than those of the AS.TEC 204 and Cobe Spectra devices [2,3,5]. Increased CE may translate into multiple benefits, including increased platelet doses, decreased donor collection time, and/or increased double-unit SDPs harvested.…”

“…Preparative apheresis technologies use the fluidized particle bed technology [1][2][3]8], or the elutriation principle [4][5][6][7][8], or the technique of periodically altering interface position [21] for leukocyte removal during plateletpheresis. On the other hand, leukocyte filtration of the SDPs is performed during apheresis.…”

Comparison of Platelet Concentrates Obtained with Two Different Plateletpheresis Programs of MCS^®+

“…Currently, WBC reduction of apheresis PCs can be performed by preparative technologies or by filtration. Preparative technologies use the fluidized particle bed technology [13], the elutriation principle [14][15][16][17], or the technique of periodically altering interface position [18] for leukocyte removal during plateletpheresis. On the other hand, leukocyte filtration of the PCs is performed after apheresis.…”

A randomized controlled trial comparing the frequency of acute reactions to plasma‐removed platelets and prestorage WBC‐reduced platelets

“…6 Single-donor apheresis platelets can be WBC reduced before storage during collection by using specific apheresis software and methods. 7 Although both components have WBC concentrations below the thresh- old of 5 ‫ן‬ 10 6 per component, recent studies have shown qualitative differences in the profile of residual WBCs present. 8 There are also significant differences in the manufacturing processes.…”