Automated collection of double red blood cell units with a variable-volume separation chamber.
BACKGROUND
Automated collection of blood components offers multiple advantages and has prompted development of portable devices. This study sought to document the biochemical and hematologic properties and in vivo recovery of red cells (RBCs) collected via a new device that employed a variable-volume centrifugal separation chamber.


METHODS
Normal subjects (n = 153) donated 2 units of RBCs via an automated blood collection system (Cymbal, Haemonetics). Procedures were conducted with wall outlet power (n = 49) or the device's battery source (n = 104). Units were collected with or without leukoreduction filtration and were stored in AS-3 for 42 days. The units were assessed via standard biochemical and hematologic tests before and after storage, and 24 leukoreduced (LR) and 24 non-LR RBCs were radiolabeled on Day 42 with Na(2)(51)CrO(4) for autologous return to determine recovery at 24 hours with concomitant determination of RBC volume via infusion of (99m)Tc-labeled fresh RBCs.


RESULTS
Two standard RBC units (targeted to contain 180 mL of RBCs plus 100 mL of AS-3) could be collected in 35.7 +/- 2.0 minutes (n = 30) or 40.3 +/- 2.7 minutes for LR RBCs (n = 92). An additional 31 collections were conducted successfully with intentional filter bypassing. RBC units contained 104 +/- 4.1 percent of their targeted volumes (170-204 mL of RBCs), and LR RBCs contained 92 percent of non-LR RBCs' hemoglobin. All LR RBCs contained less than 1 x 10(6) white blood cells. Mean hemolysis was below 0.8 percent (Day 42) for all configurations. Adenosine triphosphate was well preserved. Mean recovery was 82 +/- 4.9 percent for RBCs and 84 +/- 7.0 percent for LR RBCs.


CONCLUSIONS
The Cymbal device provided quick and efficient collection of 2 RBC units with properties meeting regulatory requirements and consistent with good clinical utility.
Aubuchon
James P
JP
Department of Pathology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA. james.p.aubuchon@hitchcock.org
Dumont
Larry J
LJ
Herschel
Louise
L
Roger
Jill
J
Beddard
Rachel L
RL
Taylor
Harry L
HL
Whitley
Pamela H
PH
Sawyer
Sherrie L
SL
Graminske
Sharon
S
Martinson
Karen
K
Dora
Ross
R
Heldke
Sybil
S
Adamson
John
J
Rose
Leslie E
LE
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D001331:Automation; D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D047589:Leukocyte Reduction Procedures
D006454:Hemoglobins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate