Hematological Changes in Platelet Apheresis Donors: An Observational Study

Background The demand for platelet concentrates is increasing for treating patients in clinics such as oncology. Single donor platelets (SDPs) collected through apheresis offer a lower risk of transfusion-related complications. Aim This observational study aims to evaluate hematological changes in donors before and after platelet donation via apheresis, shedding light on donor safety and eligibility criteria. Methods This was a pilot study involving 30 plateletpheresis procedures. Hematological parameters were measured before and after donation, including platelet count and hematocrit. Results All donors were male, with an age range of 18-45 years. Blood group distribution among donors was O+ve (12), A+ve (6), B+ve (5), AB+ve (4), B-ve (1), O-ve (1), and AB-ve (1). The mean fall in platelet count after donation was 50,833/mm³. The overall mean fall in hematocrit was 1.16%, with a range of 0.5-2%. For donors with a platelet yield of 3.0x10¹¹, the average hematocrit reduction was 1.13%, whereas for donors with a yield of 3.5x10¹¹, the reduction was 1.56%. Conclusion Automated cell separators have significantly improved SDP quality and collection efficiency. The correlation between platelet yield and pre-donation platelet count underlines the importance of personalizing collection parameters.