MCS 3p Research Articles

Comparative study of automated plateletpheresis using five different apheresis systems in a tertiary care hospital

Different types of cell separators are available nowadays based on either continuous or intermittent flow technology to meet the growing demands for single donor apheresis platelets. This prospective study compares the five machines used in our center with regard to procedure parameters, product quality and adverse effects on the donor. A total of 477 plateletpheresis on various machines were performed on eligible donors over a period of 28 months after taking informed consent. All procedures were performed following the departmental standard operating procedure (SOP) and manufacturer’s instructions. All donor and procedure related details were obtained from the procedure register. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS statistical package (version 12, USA). The median age, BSA and BMI of our plateletpheresis donors were calculated to be 29 years, 1.69 m 2 and 23.1 kg/m 2, respectively. Analyzing the parameters related to donor comfort such as donation time (DT), needle time (NT) and processing time (PT), the MCS machines were not “donor friendly” compared to Amicus and Fresenius. Platelet yield by Amicus was significantly higher as compared to other cell separators ( p < 0.05). Plateletpheresis associated citrate toxicity was higher with the Amicus and MCS 3p and vasovagal side-effects was observed least with the CS 3000 machine. Though, quality of apheresis product in terms of yield is comparable with all the machines, there are differences in the systems with regard to donor safety, procedure time and donor retention.

Effect of thrombocytapheresis on blood rheology in healthy donors: Role of nitric oxide

Platelet transfusions are increasingly being used to treat thrombocytopenic conditions. Because of anticoagulation, changes in blood composition and extracorporeal circulation, donor apheresis may cause alterations in hemorheology. This study aimed at investigating the effects of thrombocytapheresis on donor blood rheology. The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on donor red blood cell (RBC) deformability after thrombocytapheresis was also studied. Platelets were collected by a Haemonetics MCS 3p cell seperator. Blood samples were obtained before and 15 min after thrombocytapheresis. RBC deformability and aggregation were measured using an ektacytometer, whole blood viscosity (WBV) was determined with a cone-plate rotational viscometer. Donor RBCs were shown to be less deformable at all stress levels except 0.30 Pa after thrombocytapheresis and NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10 −6 M) reversed the reduced deformability caused by thrombocytapheresis. It was observed that donor apheresis induces a decrement in RBC aggregation and WBV measured at standard hematocrit (Hct). No significant alterations were observed in WBV values determined at native Hct values. Thrombocytapheresis also resulted in a decrement in fibrinogen, total protein, cholesterol and albumin levels whereas Hct was found to be increased and serum glucose, triglyceride, hemoglobin levels unaltered after apheresis. These results suggest that, thrombocytapheresis causes alterations in hemorheological parameters and hence in the perfusion of the microvasculature of the donors and NO appears to have a protective effect on the impairment observed in RBC deformability.

Effectiveness of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Myasthenia Gravis

Background Myasthenia gravis is the most common primary disorder of neuromuscular transmission, caused by an acquired immunological abnormality. The patients have a weakness of muscles which can sometimes be life threatening. Treatment modalities include administration of anti- cholinesterase drugs, corticosteroids, immunosuppression drugs, thymectomy, therapeutic plasma exchange and intra venous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and permutation and combination of all these therapies. Aim & Objective We conducted a retrospective study in Myasthenia gravis patients to find and compare the effectiveness of IVIg treatment vis-a-vis therapeutic plasma exchange, at our hospital. Material & Methods A total of 60 patients (35 males and 25 females) with a diagnosis of Myasthenia gravis, admitted between 1st January2000 to 31st December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Nineteen patients were treated by doing Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) of approximately 1–1.5 times the patient's plasma volume on Haemonetics cell separator (MCS / MCS 3p) using FFP 80% & Normal Saline 20% as replacement fluid. All the patients had central line in place for doing the procedure. The case files of all these patients were scrutinized and the treatment modalities were compared. The duration of illness, clinical features, need for assisted / mechanical ventilation, hospital stay, number of therapeutic plasma exchanges performed were analyzed. Results Twenty four of the 60 Myasthenic patients (40%) improved clinically on anti-cholinesterase drugs alone. The other 36 patients (60%) underwent thymectomy followed by medications (anti-cholinesterase & cortico-steroids). Twelve of these patients improved their muscle power, recovered clinically and were discharged. Six of the remaining 24 patients (average age 45.6 yrs.) were readmitted with myasthenic crisis or impending myasthenic crisis & were put on TPE as next treatment modality and all 6 responded to treatment. Eighteen patients were given IVIg therapy after they showed non-responsiveness to steroids & or immuno-suppressant drugs. Five of these were of younger age group (average age of 23.6 yrs) & recovered completely with IVIg treatment. Thirteen patients did not show substantial improvement & had to be supplemented with TPE. Ten of these patients responded to treatment (average age of 46.1 yrs) while 3 succumbed to the disease process. Conclusion TPE is a better option as the next line of treatment modality in older patients not responsive to thymectomy & medications. IVIg is the preferred line of treatment in the younger myasthenic patients unresponsive to thymectomy and medications. TPE resulted in less hospital stay and thus decrease in overall expense in treatment.

Comparison of plateletpheresis on the Fresenius AS.TEC 204 and Haemonetics MCS 3p

This is an attempt at comparing two cell separators for plateletpheresis, namely the Fresenius AS.TEC 204 and Haemonetics MCS 3p, at a tertiary care center in India. Donors who weighed between 55-75 kg, who had a hematocrit of 41-43%, and platelet counts of 250x10(3)-400x10(3)/microl were selected for the study. The comparability of the donors who donated on the two cell separators were analysed by t-test independent samples and no significant differences were found (P>0.05). The features compared were time taken for the procedure, volume processed on the separators, adverse reactions of the donors, quality control of the product, separation efficiency of the separators, platelet loss in the donors after the procedure, and the predictor versus the actual yield of platelets given by the cell separator. The volume processed to get a target yield of >3x10(11) was equal to 2.8-3.2 l and equal in both the cell separators. Symptoms of citrate toxicity were seen in 4 and 2.5% of donors who donated on the MCS 3p and the AS.TEC 204, respectively, and 3 and 1% of donors, respectively, had vasovagal reactions. All the platelet products collected had a platelet count of >3x10(11); 90% of the platelet products collected on the AS.TEC 204 attained the predicted yield that was set on the cell separator where as 75% of the platelet products collected on the MCS 3p attained the target yield. Quality control of the platelets collected on both the cell separators complied with the standards except that 3% of the platelets collected on the MCS 3p had a visible red cell contamination. The separation efficiency of the MCS 3p was higher, 50-52% as compared to the 40-45% on the AS.TEC 204. A provision of double venous access, less adverse reactions, negligible RBC contamination with a better predictor yield of platelets makes the AS.TEC 204 a safer and more reliable alternative than the widely used Haemonetics MCS 3p.

Calcium and magnesium levels during automated plateletpheresis in normal donors

It is well known that citrate induces ionized hypocalcaemia by the chelating effect during plateletpheresis. However, the kinetics of serum magnesium (Mg) ions has not been well documented. We, therefore, evaluated biochemical changes in healthy donors during plateletpheresis procedure. Ten healthy donors underwent plateletpheresis on continuous cell separator (CS3000, Baxter, Round Lake, IL, USA) and 10 on intermittent flow cell separator (MCS 3p, Hemonetics, Braintree, MA, USA). Serum levels of total and ionized calcium (tCa and iCa, respectively) and Mg (tMg and iMg, respectively) were measured before, during and after the procedures. Although, the fall in tCa (from 2.62 +/- 0.12 to 2.36 +/- 0.12 mmol L(-1)) and tMg (from 0.89 +/- 0.01 to 0.79 +/- 0.01 mmol L(-1)) was modest and not significant; drop in iCa (from 1.33 +/- 0.1 to 0.84 +/- 0.1 mmol L(-1)) and iMg (from 0.53 +/- 0.01 to 0.35 +/- 0.1 mmol L(-1)) was statistically significant (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences observed between the CS3000 and MCS 3p cell separators regarding the fall in Ca and Mg. None of the donors experienced any adverse reactions during the procedures. In the study, an acute ionized hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia have been observed after the plateletpheresis; therefore, measurement of both the ions may be monitored. However, there is no justification for prophylactic supplementation of either of these elements.

Comparative study of plateletpheresis using Baxter CS 3000 plus and Haemonetics MCS 3P

Platelet concentrates made from cell separators are used more frequently due to less donor exposure and leucodepletion. This retrospective study was done to compare plateletpheresis done on two cell separators: Baxter CS 3000 plus and Haemonetics MCS 3p. Plateletpheresis procedures, done from January 1997 to April 2002, were included in the study. One hundred and seven procedures were done on Haemonetics MCS 3p using SDP protocol, 49 procedures were done on Haemonetics MCS 3p using PLP protocol, and 107 were done on Baxter CS 3000 plus. Pre-procedure donor's platelet count and haemoglobin were comparable in all the groups. Platelet yield was comparable in PLP (6.44 x 10(11) platelets) and SDP (5.27 x 10(11)) protocols, but significantly less in Baxter (4.05 x 10(11) platelets, P < 0.001 for PLP and P < 0.05 for SDP). Efficiency of platelet removal was statistically significantly different in all the groups (P < 0.0001), however it was more in PLP (PLP-55.02%, SDP-47.38%, Baxter 38.98%). A significant number of products (19.51%) of Baxter failed to comply platelet count of product < or = 2,435 x 10(9)/l compared to 5.13% in PLP and 1.23% in SDP group; 36.96% of units from PLP and 28% from SDP qualified for split products compared to 1.18% of Baxter. PLP protocol of Haemonetics MCS 3p gives better platelet yield compared to Baxter CS 3000 plus and SDP protocol of Haemonetics MCS 3p.

The evaluation of microbial contamination in platelet concentrates prepared by two different methods

The microbial contamination of platelet concentrates (PCs) prepared by two different methods both with a high risk of bacterial contamination during preparation and storage were evaluated. For apheresis platelets, the concentrates were obtained using the Haemonetics MCS 3P device. For the random method, platelets were obtained by two phase centrifugation, in the Heraeus Cryofuge 8500 I device using the Kansuk 3-way bags which permit storage for five days. 1620 plateletpheresis units prepared by apheresis, and 9838 units prepared by the random method, were included in the study. Of the 11,458 PCs studied, 32 (0.27%) were false positives and 24 (0.2%) were real positives. All of the positive results occurred in platelets prepared by the random method. C. xerosis and S. epidermidis, S. hominis, Alpha-hemolytic streptococci, all flora of the skin, were isolated in the contaminated concentrates. The risk of microbial contamination of PCs, prepared both by apheresis and from whole blood, continues at a low rate although the products were collected into specific bags following rules including appropriate disinfection of the skin, correct centrifugation collection time and optimal storage conditions including temperature and agitation. These results again emphasize the importance of: obeying phlebotomy rules and hand disinfection of the person who collects the blood as well as the need for careful skin decontamination of the donor, during donation.

Single automated donor plateletpheresis increases the plasma level of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α which does not associate with endothelial release markers von Willebrand factor and fibronectin

The effect of plateletpheresis on endothelium, which has strong effects on blood coagulation, fibrinolysis and platelet function, is not known. Activation of leukocytes and subsequent generation of proinflammatory cytokines during the extracorporeal circulation may activate the endothelium. To test this hypothesis we measured plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α as a prototype of the proinflammatory cytokines, and von Willebrand factor (vWF) and fibronectin as endothelial release/damage markers before and after a single plateletpheresis procedure on an intermittent-flow machine Haemonetics MCS 3p in 17 healthy donors. We found a significant increase in median plasma level of TNF-α following plateletpheresis (3.5 vs 26.5 pg/ml, P=0.02). Such increases in vWF and fibronectin were not observed. The increase in plasma TNF-α indicates that a single plateletpheresis procedure causes leukocyte activation which does not seemingly impair endothelial cell function. The relation of plateletpheresis-induced proinflammatory cytokine release to some adverse effects observed in both donors and recipients, and the effect of repeated plateletpheresis on endothelium deserve further studies.

Utility of red blood cell apheresis in autologous blood donation

Although autologous blood donation is an alternative to allogeneic transfusion, some authors had questioned its cost-effectiveness. New techniques, like red blood cell apheresis could improve the cost-effectiveness of autologous blood transfusion, therefore we have valued the efficiency of this procedure in autologous blood donation. Materials and Methods. We studied 131 patients undergoing different types of surgery who entered the preoperative autologous blood donation program over a one year period. Apheresis was performed with the MCS 3p from Haemeonetics. Results. We were able to collect 304 red blood cell units from 131 patients. The average yield per procedure was two units (88 cases, 67.2%). In 41 patients (31.3%), we collected 3 units and, in two cases, 4 units were collected. The mean volume of the units was 255 (191–280). 18 (13.7% patients had an adverse reaction. Most of these were mild. Only in one case was it necessary to stop the procedure. 202 units (66.4%) were transfused to 97 patients (74%). 12 (9.2%) patients also used allogeneic transfusions (mean units: 0.18±0.05 with a range 1–5). Conclusion. Red blood cell apheresis is a useful procedure in autologous blood donation.

Harvesting of Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cells with Different Programmes of Discontinuous Flow Systems

Abstract Background and Objectives: From a technical point of view two problems arise during the collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC): first, the volume of the apheresis product is often large, requiring volume reduction prior to cryopreservation. Second, the platelet (PLT) Ioss due to the harvesting of the buffy coat is an unwanted side effect. With respect to these problems, the present study was designed to compare programs for PBPC collection with discontinous‐flow cell separators. Materials and Methods: Three different protocols for PBPC harvesting were investigated in 32 patients with malignancies. In the first protocol, the blood cell separator Haemonetics MCS 3p was used. In the second protocol using the same machine, the opening and closure of the stem cell valve was modified in combination with a centri surge to reduce the PLT loss. The MCS+ device with another configuration of the valves was used in the third protocol. PBPC were mobilised by chemotherapy plus cytokine administration or application of growth factor alone. Blood counts and CD34 antigen‐expressing cells were determined before apheresis and in the PBPC product. Colony‐forming unit granulocyte/macrophage (CFU‐GM) were determined in the apheresis product. Results: 55 PBPC collections were carried out with a median end product volume of 105 ml. The median counts for CD34+ antigen‐expressing cells and CFU‐GM were 1.5 × 106 and 2.5 × 104/kg body weight, respectivel. PLT loss was significantly lower in protocol III. Conclusion: The study reported here revealed that PBPC could be easily collected in a reduced product volume by the intermittent‐flow cell separators. No additional centrifugation prior to cryopreservation was necessary to remove the plasma from the apheresis product. Patient's PLT loss was reduced by the centrisurge technique but this still has to be improved.

Harvesting of Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cells with Different Programmes of Discontinuous Flow Systems

Background and Objectives: From a technical point of view two problems arise during the collection of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC): first, the volume of the apheresis product is often large, requiring volume reduction prior to cryopreservation. Second, the platelet (PLT) loss due to the harvesting of the buffy coat is an unwanted side effect. With respect to these problems, the present study was designed to compare programs for PBPC collection with discontinous–flow cell separators. Materials and Methods: Three different protocols for PBPC harvesting were investigated in 32 patients with malignancies. In the first protocol, the blood cell separator Haemonetics MCS 3p was used. In the second protocol using the same machine, the opening and closure of the stem cell valve was modified in combination with a centri surge to reduce the PLT loss. The MCS+ device with another configuration of the valves was used in the third protocol. PBPC were mobilised by chemotherapy plus cytokine administration or application of growth factor alone. Blood counts and CD34 antigen–expressing cells were determined before apheresis and in the PBPC product. Colony–forming unit granulocyte/macrophage (CFU–GM) were determined in the apheresis product. Results: 55 PBPC collections were carried out with a median end product volume of 105 ml. The median counts for CD34+ antigen–expressing cells and CFU–GM were 1.5×10⁶and2.5×10⁴/kg body weight, respectively. PLT loss was significantly lower in protocol III. Conclusion: The study reported here revealed that PBPC could be easily collected in a reduced product volume by the intermittent–flow cell separators. No additional centrifugation prior to cryopreservation was necessary to remove the plasma from the apheresis product. Patient's PLT loss was reduced by the centri surge technique but this still has to be improved.

Multicomponent Collection (Mcc): An Overview

Collection of multiple products, including single and double units of platelets (SDP, DPP), plasma and RBC is progressively improving donor utilization and is leading to more cost-effective apheresis. Cell separators such as the Fresenius AS 204, the Dideco Excel version 97 and the Baxter Amicus are newcomers to the family of the last generation apparatuses used for MCC such as the AS 104, the Vivacell and the MCS 3p. The Cobe Spectra is for the moment the only apparatus unable to collect packed RBC along with platelets but Cobe too is moving in the direction of MCC. The next step is triple product apheresis.

Differential induction of P‐selectin expression on platelets by two cell separators during plateletpheresis and the effect of gender on the release of soluble P‐selectin

Though a number of studies have elegantly characterized platelet activation during storage, less attention has been paid to the initial activation caused by different collection procedures. The effects of two blood cell separators on the initial activation of platelets were measured by flow cytometric analysis of P-selectin expression in 13 male donors on one cell separator (CS 3000 Plus) and 11 men and 9 women on the other (MCS 3P). In addition, the storage and release of soluble P-selectin (circulating P-selectin [cP-selectin]) by platelets were quantified, to determine whether the change in cP-selectin is a more sensitive marker for initial platelet activation, and the influence of gender on measured endpoints was evaluated. The CS 3000 Plus increased the percentage of P-selectin-positive platelets from a median of 3.4 percent before apheresis to 7.6 percent (p = 0.006) in platelet concentrates (PCs), whereas the MCS 3P did not (p = 0.002 between the two cell separators). When preapheresis cP-selectin levels were compared to those in apheresis PCs, cP-selectin increased from 51 to 101 ng per mL in plasma of CS 3000 Plus PCs, whereas cP-selectin levels increased from 53 to 78 ng per mL in MCS 3P PCs (men) and from 48 to 99 ng per mL in MSC 3P PCs (women) (p<0.005 for all). The relative increase in cP-selectin was higher in women than in men in MCS 3P PCs (p = 0.013). Concomitantly, the amount of P-selectin stored in platelets before apheresis decreased (p<0.025 for all). When donors undergoing apheresis on the MCS 3P were compared, the amount of P-selectin stored in the platelets of PCs was higher in men than women (p = 0.026). This trial shows 1) that initial activation of platelets obtained with the MCS 3P is less than that of platelets obtained with the CS 3000 Plus; 2) that the increase in cP-selectin is a more sensitive marker for initial platelet activation than the expression of P-selectin on the surface; and 3) that the relative amount of cP-selectin is higher in women than in men given the same stimulus. Differences in platelet activation by various cell separators and the sex of the donor may contribute to variability of PC quality.

Pediatric peripheral blood progenitor cell collection: haemonetics MCS 3P versus COBE Spectra versus Fresenius AS104.

An increasing number of apheresis machines are becoming available for peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) collection in children. At the Children's Hospital of Florence (Italy), three apheresis machines were evaluated: MCS 3P (Haemonetics) (10 procedures in 4 patients, aged 10-12 years, weight 23.5-64 kg), Spectra, (COBE) (8 procedures in 3 patients, aged 4-17 years, weight 19-59 kg), and AS104 (Fresenius) (24 procedures in 9 patients, aged 2-16 years, weight 13.6-60 kg). For PBPC quantitative analysis, CD34 cytofluorimetry was employed. Relevant variables analyzed included efficiency of CD34+ cell extraction and enrichment, mononuclear cell purity and red cell contamination of the apheresis components, and platelet count decreases after leukapheresis. No significant differences in CD34+ cell-extraction abilities were found. However, the AS104 provided consistently purer leukapheresis components in terms of mononuclear cell and CD34+ cell enrichment (441 +/- 59%, vs. 240 +/- 35% and 290 +/- 42% for MCS 3P and Spectra, respectively). Postapheresis platelet counts dropped the least with the AS104. The smallest patient who underwent apheresis with MCS 3P (the only machine working on discontinuous flow and hence with greater volume shifts) weighed 23.5 kg and tolerated the procedure well, with no signs of hemodynamic instability. No significant complications were observed. All machines seem to have comparable PBPC extraction efficiency, but the AS104 seems to give the component with the greatest PBPC enrichment. This feature might be relevant for further ex vivo cell processing (CD34+ cell selection, expansion, and so on).

PBSC collection from G-CSF primed donors

Peripheral blood stems cells (PBSCs) have been used in autologous transplantation as an alternative to bone marrow-derived cells. Recently, PBSCs have been collected from healthy donors after priming with G-CSF and used for allogeneic transplantation. We have a comparatively large experience with PBSC collection in autologous and allogeneic settings. The five cell separators we employ are: the CS3000 plus, AS 104, Excel, Cobe Spectra and MCS 3p. These machines appear to have different efficacies but no studies have been carried out on this topic. In a prospective study we have randomly assigned donors to different cell separators to evaluate their efficiency. Twenty-five donors underwent the procedure and 50 leukaphereses were carried out. Donors were given 5 μg kg −1 d −1 of recombinant human G-CSF for 3 days and 10 μg kg −1 d −1 for 4 days subcutaneously. Leukaphereses were performed on days 6 and 7 of G-CSF administration. The results of our study show that a total value of CD34+ cells ranging from 48.44 × 10 6 to 270.37 × 10 6 can be collected from donors with a white cell count ranging from 40.50 × 10 3 μL −1 to 51.34 × 10 3μL −1 and mononuclear cells ranging from 16.42 to 20.37%. The Excel and the MCS 3p seem to differ from the other machines in terms of higher CD34+ cell collection efficiency. The Excel appears to be even more efficient than the MCS 3p, but this may not reflect reality because the Excel processes 12 L of blood while the MCS 3p employs an 8 L procedure. All the machines showed satisfactory results in terms of yield and quality of the harvests.

Comparison of Two Different Techniques for Harvesting Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cells (PBPC): Reduced Volume PBPC Collection versus Discontinuous Flow System

&lt;i&gt;Background:&lt;/i&gt; Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) can be collected by most blood cell separators. The present study was designed to compare two new techniques for PBPC collection. &lt;i&gt;Design:&lt;/i&gt; Prospective, randomized study. &lt;i&gt;Setting:&lt;/i&gt; Haemapheresis Unit and Haematological Division of a University Clinic. &lt;i&gt;Patients:&lt;/i&gt; 20 patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and thyroid cancer. &lt;i&gt;Material and Methods:&lt;/i&gt; 20 patients with malignancies underwent PBPC collection with a ‘reduced-volume’ programme (Fresenius AS 104) and a single-needle technique (Haemone-tics MCS 3p), respectively. PBPC were mobilized by combined chemotherapy and cytokine administration or application of growth factor alone. Blood counts, CD 34 expressing cells and mononuclear cells (MNC) were determined before apheresis and in the PBPC product. Granulocyte macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) were determined in the apheresis product. PBPC were frozen at controlled rates and stored in liquid nitrogen until they were used for autologous transplantation after high-dose chemotherapy. &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; 32 PBPC collections were carried out with the Fresenius AS 104 and 27 separations with the Haemonetics MCS 3p device. Median product volume was 106 ml using the Fresenius AS 104 apparatus and 156 ml in the case of the Haemonetics MCS 3p machine. The median CD 34-expressing cell count was 1.0×10&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt;/kg body weight for the Fresenius device and 0.6 ×10&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt; for the Haemonetics cell separator. The cell recoveries of the two studied devices were significantly different. Six patients were grafted after high-dose chemotherapy. Five showed signs of haematopoietic recovery after autologous PBPC retrans-fusion. &lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt; The study reported here revealed that PBPC could be collected by both techniques. Although the collected amounts of CD34 expressing cells were similar, cell recoveries were significantly higher in the Haemonetics machine. Using the ‘reduced-volume’ procedure no additional centrifugation prior to cryopreservation was necessary to remove the plasma from the apheresis product. Haematopoietic engraftment was achieved after retransfusion of PBCS.

Comparison of different protocols in plateletpheresis with the haemonetics MCS 3p blood cell separator with respect to parameters of product quality.

In thrombocytapheresis, intermittent flow cell separators produce platelet concentrates (PC) with a higher leucocyte contamination than continuous flow blood cell separators. The new discontinuous flow cell separator Haemonetics MCS 3p offers a low-leucocyte solution for PC. The quality of PC obtained by the MCS 3p was investigated in this study. Prospective study. Haemapheresis Unit of a University Clinic. Healthy blood donors from the haemapheresis unit. Platelet (PLT) yield, separation efficiency and white blood cell (WBC) contamination were studied in three different protocols. Two protocols used a haemocalculator, which calculated the target volume based on the donor's physical characteristics and the desired PLT yield for the procedure. Protocol I used 3,000 ml as target process volume and protocol II 3.3 x 10(11) as desired PLT yield. Protocol III was used without haemocalculator. Glucose, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), morphology score and pH value were analysed to investigate the quality of the PC. Platelet yield and separation efficiency were not statistically different in the three protocols. Leucocyte contamination was lowest in the protocol without haemocalculator (median: 3.15 x 10(6), range 0.4-20.8 x 10(6)). Glucose, lactate, LDH and pH were not statistically different in the three protocols. Morphology score was best in protocol III. PLT collection with the MCS 3p blood cell separator results in sufficient thrombocyte yields. Using the haemocalculator we were not able to achieve the desired platelet yield. For this reason, and because of the higher WBC contamination in protocol II we prefer PLT collection without the haemocalculator. The quality of the platelet concentrates was good with respect to the parameters glucose, lactate, LDH, morphology score and pH.

Single‐donor platelet concentrates produced along with packed red blood cells with the haemonetics MCS 3p: Preliminary results

There has been an increasing interest in recent years over the qualitative superiority of single-donor platelets in the management of hemato-oncologic patients. The reasonable desire of both patients and physicians to limit the risks of transfusion along with the need for limiting the costs involved in this kind of therapy have led to application of multicomponent donations both in terms of double platelet concentrates and double products such as red blood cells (RBC) and platelets from the same donor. Single donor platelets and RBC have been collected in a semi-automated mode and only the very recent introduction of the Haemonetics MCS 3p with its SDP/RBC protocol provides a totally closed-system automated protocol for this combined collection. Twenty procedures have been carried out so far at our unit. In a mean of 87 minutes (6-7 passes), a mean of 3.1 x 10(11) platelets were collected along with approximately 220 mL of packed RBC. The leukocyte contamination of the platelet product was in the range of 0.4-1.1 x 10(7) (99% lymphocytes), and the quality of platelets was very satisfactory as measured by the hypotonic shock response, aggregation induced by ADP, collagen and ristocetin, morphology score, and membrane glycoproteins modifications. Equally satisfactory was the quality of the RBC concentrate, suspended in 80 mL of SAG-M, with a total hemoglobin (Hb) content approaching 55 g as compared to the normal Hb content of a standard RBC concentrate that is approximately 62 g.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)