Comparison of plateletapheresis with two continuous-flow cell separators using identical donors

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Medical Devices
• Transfusion Medicine

Background:

• Platelet apheresis is crucial for transfusion support.
• Comparing blood cell separators is essential for optimizing collection efficiency and product quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of the IBM 2997 and Fenwal CS-3000 blood cell separators in plateletapheresis.

Main Methods:

• 20 donors underwent plateletapheresis using both the CS-3000 and 2997 systems.
• Operator consistency was maintained for procedures and product studies.
• Key metrics including collection efficiency, yield, leukocyte contamination, anticoagulant use, calcium levels, product volume, and processing times were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The 2997 demonstrated significantly higher platelet collection efficiency (81% vs. 60%) and lower leukocyte contamination (0.09 x 10^9 vs. 0.46 x 10^9).
• While both systems provided comparable platelet yields, the 2997 resulted in larger product volumes (414 ml vs. 237 ml) and shorter processing times (90 min vs. 110 min).
• The 2997 required more anticoagulant (471 ml vs. 324 ml), led to greater ionized calcium reduction (27.3% vs. 17.0%), and was associated with more hypocalcemic symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The IBM 2997 is more efficient in platelet collection and yields a purer product with less leukocyte contamination.
• Despite increased anticoagulant use and calcium reduction, the 2997 offers advantages in processing time and product volume.
• The choice between devices may depend on balancing efficiency and potential donor side effects.