Platelet washing with a blood cell processor

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Hematology

Background:

• Washing platelet components is a procedure indicated for specific patient populations.
• Removing plasma proteins from platelet concentrates is crucial for preventing transfusion reactions.

Observation:

• This study evaluated an automated cell processor protocol for washing pooled platelet concentrates.
• The procedure involved a 1500-ml, 0.9% saline wash for platelets stored at 20-24°C with constant rotation.

Findings:

• The automated washing procedure resulted in an average 8% loss of platelets (range 0-19%).
• A mean of 99.6% of plasma proteins was removed (range 99.2-99.8%).
• The effectiveness was demonstrated in a case of alloimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia.

Implications:

• This automated protocol offers an efficient method for plasma protein removal from platelet components.
• The procedure is clinically effective and suitable for treating conditions like alloimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia.
• Further research can explore broader applications in transfusion medicine.