Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
12:40
Preparation and Pathogen Inactivation of Double Dose Buffy Coat Platelet Products using the INTERCEPT Blood System
Published on: December 7, 2012
Platelet concentrates produced from whole blood using the Atreus processing system.
1Components Development Laboratory, NHS Blood and Transplant, Brentwood, Essex, UK. stephen.thomas@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Vox Sanguinis
|April 28, 2009
Summary
The Atreus 2C+ system can produce quality platelet concentrates (PC) from buffy coats, even when whole blood (WB) is stored at room temperature overnight. While platelet yield was lower, it met UK guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Blood processing and transfusion medicine
- Hematology and cell therapy
Background:
- The Atreus 2C+ system automates whole blood processing for platelet concentrate (PC) manufacture.
- This study evaluated PC quality derived from buffy coats processed by the Atreus system compared to a manual method.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the quality of platelet concentrates (PC) manufactured using the Atreus 2C+ system versus a manual method.
- To assess the suitability of whole blood (WB) storage at ambient temperature for subsequent PC production.
Main Methods:
- Whole blood (WB) was processed using either the Atreus 2C+ system or a manual method after 26 hours of storage at 22°C.
- Buffy coats (BC) were pooled with plasma, centrifuged, and pressed to create pooled PC.
- PC quality was assessed using metabolic and activation markers up to day 9 of storage.
Main Results:
- Platelet quality was comparable between Atreus-derived and control PC throughout storage.
- No significant differences were observed in metabolic (pH, ATP, HSR) or activation markers (CD62P, annexin V, etc.).
- Atreus-derived PC showed significantly lower platelet yields (302 x 10^9/unit) than controls (411 x 10^9/unit) but met UK guidelines.
Conclusions:
- Platelet concentrates produced from Atreus-processed buffy coats appear suitable for clinical use.
- Whole blood can be stored at ambient temperature overnight without active cooling before processing.
- Optimizing secondary processing may enhance platelet yield from Atreus-derived buffy coats.
