title: Granulocyte collections: comparison of two apheresis systems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Donor granulocyte concentrates are routinely administered to patients with granulocyte function defects or transient neutropenia and (risk of) bacterial or fungal exacerbations, despite lack of definitive clinical proof for patient-relevant outcome improvement. Granulocytes are collected by apheresis from healthy donors treated with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor and/or steroids for neutrophil mobilization the evening before apheresis, as well as with hydroxyethyl starch during apheresis, to enhance sedimentation of red blood cells (RBCs) and thus to facilitate accessibility of neutrophils for collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Granulocyte apheresis procedures are performed with standard apheresis equipment, including with the frequently used apheresis system for peripheral blood "stem cell" collection, COBE Spectra MNC (Terumo BCT), using the same tubing set as for MNC collection, but a different software protocol, PMN. An automated apheresis system for granulocyte collection, Spectra Optia IDL (Terumo BCT), became available in October 2011. Since then, 70 granulocyte apheresis procedures have been performed at our site, 35 each with the new and old systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apheresis procedures were well tolerated throughout. The target dose of 1 × 10(10) neutrophils was achieved in all but one collection with Spectra Optia IDL. Spectra Optia IDL collections were approximately 20% more efficient. Products contained more nontarget white blood cells (mononuclear cells), but fewer RBCs and platelets. Although less blood had to be processed with Spectra Optia IDL to achieve the same granulocyte dose, clinically relevant differences between the two apheresis devices were not apparent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both apheresis systems are similarly capable of generating granulocyte concentrates.
authors.affiliation: German Red Cross Blood Service and Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University Medical School, Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Medicine/Hematology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thorausch
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bialleck
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luxembourg
authors.forename: Erhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seifried
authors.forename: Halvard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bonig
mesh_terms: D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006405:Hematology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male