Comparison of two sterile connection devices and the effect of sterile connections on blood component quality

Sterile connection devices (SCDs) are used to connect pieces of polyvinylchloride tubing between blood bag systems. After observing a slight decrease in inner diameter of tubing welded with the CompoDock S2 SCD, the effect of welded tubing on storage characteristics of white blood cell (WBC)-reduced red blood cells (RBCs) and platelet (PLT) concentrates was studied. Welds were made with Terumo SCD (T-SCD) or CompoDock S2, and unwelded tubing served as reference.

Three WBC-reduced RBC units or 3 PLT concentrates were pooled and divided to prevent donor-dependent differences. The units were transferred 10 times over (1) tubing with a T-SCD weld, (2) a CompoDock S2 weld, or (3) unwelded tubing. RBCs were stored for 42 days and free hemoglobin (Hb) was measured; PLT concentrates were stored for 8 days and CD62P expression was measured, as markers for blood component quality (n = 10 paired experiments).

WBC-reduced RBC units had similar hemolysis at the end of storage: 0.47 +/- 0.28, 0.47 +/- 0.35, and 0.49 +/- 0.38 percent of total Hb, for tubing with a T-SCD weld, a CompoDock S2 weld, or no weld, respectively (not significant). CD62P expression of stored WBC-reduced PLT concentrates was not significantly different between the groups: 20.3 +/- 5.1, 19.8 +/- 5.1, and 22.3 +/- 9.8 percent for tubing with a T-SCD weld, a CompoDock S2 weld, or no weld, respectively.

The quality of blood components, measured as RBC hemolysis and platelet CD62P expression, is not adversely affected by the presence of a sterile connection in the tubing, made by either the CompoDock S2 or the T-SCD.