Preparation of granulocyte concentrates for neonatal patient transfusion

As an adjunct to antibiotic therapy, granulocytes for infusion often are required within hours of the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. The logistics of obtaining granulocytes by leukapheresis were evaluated in order to provide, at short notice, a low volume, highly concentrated product. An average of 4.0 X 10(9) granulocytes in a mean volume of 101.5 ml of plasma was collected after processing an average of 3 liters of blood from each of three donors. Following centrifugation of these products, the volume of the final products was reduced by an average of 54.3 percent, while only 10.2 percent of the granulocytes were lost. One of the products, containing 4.8 X 10(9) granulocytes in a volume of 44 ml, was infused into a 3.4 kg septic neonatal patient within 4 hours of receipt of the order by the blood bank. We conclude that it is possible to collect high concentrations of granulocytes for neonatal transfusion in a timely manner by following the protocol described in this report.