Provision of leucocyte poor blood at the bedside

The Imugard IG 500 cotton wool filter and the Cellselect cellulose acetate filter were adapted for filtration of leucocytes from packed cell transfusions at the bedside. Sixty five transfusions were given via the Imugard IG 500 filter and 54 transfusions were given via the Cellselect filter. Packed red cell concentrates from the National Blood Transfusion Service provided for routine blood transfusions were used in all cases. No patient in either group of multitransfused patients experienced a febrile blood transfusion reaction during the study. The Imugard IG 500 removed 91% +/- 9 (SEM) leucocytes; the Cellselect removed 96% +/- 7 (SEM) leucocytes. In the Imugard IG 500 group one patient received greater than 0.5 X 10(9) leucocytes. In the Imugard IG 500 group one patient received greater than 0.5 X 10(9) leucocytes, but no patient in the Cellselect group received greater than 0.5 X 10(9) leucocytes in any single transfusion. This is a safe method of providing leucocyte poor blood at the bedside.