title: An evaluation of automated blood collection mixers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the mixing capacity of two whole blood (WB) collection mixers.
  
  
  METHODS
  WB was simulated by using a 25% glycerol solution warmed to 35 degrees C. Citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) anticoagulant of a collection system was stained with toluidine blue, and simulated WB was added at 30, 60 or 90 ml/min, respectively (n = 3 per flow speed). The optical density (OD) of 10-ml fractions was measured, and results are expressed as percentage of a well-mixed '100%-sample'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CompoGuard showed adequate mixing at all three flow speeds (average ODs 96-103%). HemoLight showed good mixing at 60 and 90 ml/min (ODs from 97 to 101%). At 30 ml/min, mixing appeared suboptimal, but still conformed to our requirements with ODs from 96% to 104%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both mixers give sufficient mixing of whole blood with anticoagulant.
authors.affiliation: Sanquin Blood Bank North-West Region, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.vandermeer@sanquin.nl
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Pietersz
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001331:Automation; D001782:Blood Donors; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants