title: Automated processing of whole blood units: operational value and in vitro quality of final blood components.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Community Transfusion Centre in Madrid currently processes whole blood using a conventional procedure (Compomat, Fresenius) followed by automated processing of buffy coats with the OrbiSac system (CaridianBCT). The Atreus 3C system (CaridianBCT) automates the production of red blood cells, plasma and an interim platelet unit from a whole blood unit. Interim platelet unit are pooled to produce a transfusable platelet unit. In this study the Atreus 3C system was evaluated and compared to the routine method with regards to product quality and operational value.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 5-week period 810 whole blood units were processed using the Atreus 3C system. The attributes of the automated process were compared to those of the routine method by assessing productivity, space, equipment and staffing requirements. The data obtained were evaluated in order to estimate the impact of implementing the Atreus 3C system in the routine setting of the blood centre. Yield and in vitro quality of the final blood components processed with the two systems were evaluated and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Atreus 3C system enabled higher throughput while requiring less space and employee time by decreasing the amount of equipment and processing time per unit of whole blood processed. Whole blood units processed on the Atreus 3C system gave a higher platelet yield, a similar amount of red blood cells and a smaller volume of plasma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support the conclusion that the Atreus 3C system produces blood components meeting quality requirements while providing a high operational efficiency. Implementation of the Atreus 3C system could result in a large organisational improvement.
authors: Community Transfusion Centre, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Marisa
authors: M
authors: Jurado
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Algora
authors: Félix
authors: F
authors: Garcia-Sanchez
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Vico
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Perez
authors: Luz
authors: L
authors: Barbolla
mesh_terms: D058621:Blood Buffy Coat / Q000166:cytology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D016238:Cytapheresis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D010949:Plasma