Improved blood utilization with leukocyte-poor cell masses (LPCM) prepared by cell washing

The preparation of leukocyte-poor cell masses (LPCM) by saline washing with the IBM 2291 Blood Cell Processor was investigated. Units to be washed were preferentially selected from short-dated units to reduce outdating. LPCM had a mean of 0.34 X 10(9) WBC (90% WBC removal) with 87.8 per cent RBC recovery. At least 50 per cent of the LPCM prepared used blood that was salvaged from typically discarded units. Febrile transfusion reactions were prevented in alloimmunized patients with this product. Cell washing with the IBM Blood Cell Processor can prepare LPCM from blood of any storage date to meet American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) standards.