Automated preparation of platelet concentrates from pooled buffy coats: in vitro studies and experiences with the OrbiSac system.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to evaluate platelet concentrates (PCs) prepared by the automated OrbiSac system, from pooled buffy coats (BCs) stored in a platelet (PLT) additive solution.


METHODS
Experiment 1 was a paired in vitro study of PCs (from six BCs), prepared by automated and manual procedures. Experiments 2 and 3 evaluated PCs from OrbiSac (from six BCs); Experiment 3 included selection of BCs based on donor data. Experiment 4 was a paired in vitro study of PCs (from six BCs) with an integrated white blood cell (WBC) filter and two different storage containers. Experiment 5 evaluated PCs (from six BCs) from the OrbiSac with an integrated WBC filter. Experiment 6 was similar to Experiment 5 with computer-selected pools of 5 BCs. The in vitro studies evaluated the effects of 7-day storage of PLTs regarding PLT metabolism and disintegration.


RESULTS
Experiments 1 and 4 had similar in vitro results. In Experiment 2, PLT content was 370 x 10(9) +/- 70 x 10(9) per PC and recovery from BCs was 76 +/- 6 percent. In Experiment 3, the PLT content was 380 x 10(9) +/- 50 x 10(9) per PC and variation was reduced compared with randomly pooled BCs. In Experiment 5, increased PLT content was found (420 x 10(9) +/- 70 x 10(9) per PC and recovery from BCs of 80 +/- 5%). In Experiment 6, five rather than six BCs gave 340 x 10(9) +/- 60 x 10(9) PLTs per PC and recovery was 79 +/- 5 percent.


CONCLUSIONS
These in vitro studies suggest that the OrbiSac technique is equivalent to the standard manual method regarding the PLT in vitro characteristics during storage for 7 days. The results of standardizing the PLT count in PCs by selecting the BCs pools on the basis of the blood donor PLT concentration were encouraging.
Larsson
S
S
Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital/Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. stella.larsson@kus.se
Sandgren
P
P
Sjödin
A
A
Vesterinen
M
M
Gulliksson
H
H
D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D001792:Blood Platelets; D001793:Blood Preservation; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D010976:Platelet Count; D017713:Platelet Transfusion