Platelet collection and transfusion using the fenwal CS-3000 cell separator

A prototype model of the Fenwal CS-3000 Blood Cell Separator (Deerfield, IL) was studied for plateletpheresis in 63 donors and 5 transfusions in patients. Donor effects were consistent with platelet removal and mild hemodilution. The incidence of reactions (9 of 63) was low and all were mild "citrate" type. A two-hour collection yielded 4.0 +/- 0.72 x 10(11) platelets at an efficiency of 45 +/- 6.9 per cent. The product had little contamination with leukocytes (0.26 +/- 1.2 x 10(9) and red blood cells (hematocrit less than 1%). Morphology and pH were well preserved during 24 hours of storage. Four patients with uncomplicated aregenerative thrombocytopenia were transfused on five occasions, with a mean of 4.5 +/- 0.87 x 10(11) platelets resulting in a mean platelet count increment of 55,000/microliter and dramatic reduction in template bleeding times.