Evaluation of the Organon Teknika Plasmapur system with new software and two types of filter

A convenient plasmapheresis apparatus is the Plasmapur system (Organon Teknika). Recently the software of the Plasmapur monitor has been changed. We evaluated the modified Plasmapur monitor and two types of Plasmapur separators containing polypropylene membranes with a mean maximum pore size of 0.5 mum and 0.6 mum respectively. 50 plasmaphereses with each separator were performed; during 10 procedures donor blood samples and samples from the plasma obtained were drawn. No hypersensitivity reactions were observed, the operator "hands on" time was less than 5 min, the mean procedure time was 45 min to collect 650 mL of plasma with both types of filters. Biochemical analysis of the samples indicated that with both separators the plasma obtained was of good quality with respect to Factor VIII and other proteins and that no significant activation of the complement or clotting cascades occurred.