Erythroplateletapheresis: A New Strategy in the Global Apheresis Program

Abstract

Blood donation allowed by cell separators can offer higher performance and higher yield to guarantee better quality and pureness of collected products. New systems for the collection of platelet concentrate (PC) and packed red blood cells (PRBC) are currently available. The aim of our work was to test the possibility of preparing PC routinely from normal apheresis donors in a minimum amount of time while providing a second product. Over a 3-month period we performed 40 procedures using the Hemonetics MCS3P blood cell separator and the Dideco Excel. The mean values of platelet yield were 2.8 x 10¹¹ (range 1.4-4.1) with the MCS3P and 3.49 x 10¹¹ (range 2.9-3.9) with the Excel, in a plasma volume of 240 ml and 215 ml respectively; the PRBC units were added with SAG-Mannitol allowing a storage time of 42 days. Collection times were 71’ and 48’ respectively. Donor tolerance was analogous to phateletapheresis or plasmapheresis.