Inverted spin method for removing RBCs from BM buffy coat products.
BACKGROUND
Inverted spin is a method of removing RBCs that historically has been part of blood banking practice. We investigated the feasibility of using this method for RBC depletion of BM buffy coat products in situations where recipient RBC Abs have been identified to donor RBC Ags.


METHODS
The BM buffy coat product was placed in a transfer pack, inverted, centrifuged at 600 g for 10 min, suspended and the RBCs removed slowly into another transfer pack. Nine patients treated between April 1998 and February 2001 received products prepared by our version of the inverted spin procedure.


RESULTS
We removed a median value of 81.2% of the RBCs, while still recovering a median of 94.3% of the mononuclear cells (median: 0.35 x 10(8)/kg; range: 0.17-0.9 x 10(8)/kg). The median volume of RBCs remaining in the product was 15.0 mL (range: 7.3-21.9 mL). The CD34(+) cell dose of the final product ranged from 1.0 x 10(6)/kg to 4.8 x 10(6) cells/kg (median: 1.9 x 10 6/kg). Granulocyte recovery (defined as ANC count >or=500/microL for a period of 3 consecutive days) ranged from 18-30 days post-infusion of the allograft (median: 24.0 days). One patient died shortly after his transplant from complications of his disease. No patient had any evidence of an acute hemolytic reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Advantages of the inverted spin method include no need for additives (e.g. hydroxyethyl starch, HSA, or O negative RBC), and use of equipment readily available in most processing laboratories.
Buckhalter
R
R
Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program of West Virginia University Hospitals Processing Laboratory, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Watkins
K
K
Ericson
S G
SG
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility / Q000517:prevention & control; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002452:Cell Count; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D018952:Antigens, CD34