[Collection of thrombocyte concentrates and coagulation active fresh plasma with the Haemonetics PCS system]

More intensive chemotherapeutic regimens in patients with leukemia or malignant disease lead to an increasing demand for platelet concentrates. As conventional preparation of platelets from fresh whole blood is limited by the number of blood donors, new methods have to be investigated. Plasmapheresis with simultaneous collection of platelets is favored. We tested the new Haemonetics PCS system (Haemonetics Corp., Braintree, Mass.). Beside the effectivity of the measure, we were interested in the quality of the products. The simultaneous collection of hemostatic active plasma and platelet concentrates did not produce the same quality as our routine products.