[Clinical aspects of the quality control of synthetic polymers used in hematology]

Polyvinyl chloride (PCW) is the most often used synthetic polymer in production of so widely employed in blood service instruments as containers for blood and its preparations, apparatuses for blood transfusions, etc. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP is an often employed plasticider in production of PCW for medical purposes. Since 1967 is has been known that DEHP from the walla of a PCW container penetrates the preservative liquid, blood, or any preparation. The paper, based on results from literature and on the authors own studies, discusses the abilities of DEHP to penetrate blood, and its unequal contents in particular blood preparations. Also multiple blood transfusions are capable of introducing large quantities of phthalates into the patient's organism. Although till now it has not been shown that there is any clear risk related to usage containers with PCW containing DEHP, yet its presence in blood, or in its preparations, should be taken into account, as well as possible influence of this compound (besides other factors) on the patient's state. That is why recently PCW without DEHP, or with other synthetic polymers (polyolefins, etc.), has been used in production of objects used in blood service, esp. in containers for thrombocyte concentrates. The containers seem to be free from the additional factors threatening the patient.