Preparation of random donor leukocyte-poor platelets by cytapheresis

Platelet refractoriness in treatment of multitransfused patients with haematologic malignancies can be delayed or prevented by transfusing leukocyte-poor platelet concentrates. Absence of consensus about the number of residual leukocytes that leads to a delay or prevention of HLA-antibody formation, may be based on a lack of sampling for determination of leukocyte contamination levels in platelet concentrates. From data presented in this study we conclude that if every preparation of platelets is also tested for platelet count, it reduces costs when the pheresis platelets can be split. Transfusion of platelets in patients can also be better evaluated.