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Prestorage inline filtration of whole blood for obtaining white cell-reduced blood components
J Riggert1, D W Schwartz, J U Wieding
1Department of Transfusion Medicine, University Clinic, Göttingen, Germany.
Background:
Preliminary studies have indicated that the inline filtration of whole blood is a feasible method of obtaining white cell (WBC)-reduced packaged red cells (RBCs) and WBC-reduced fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) while using only one filter.
Study Design And Methods:
An inline WBC-reduction filter, specially designed for this purpose and integrated in a "top-top" system, was used in the preparation of 24 units of WBC-reduced RBCs (RBC-F) and FFP (FFP-F) in each of two transfusion centers (Vienna and Göttingen). Twelve conventionally prepared units of RBCs (RBC-C) and FFP (FFP-C) served as controls. WBC contamination was assessed in each unit with the Nageotte chamber. Several coagulation measures were evaluated by using standardized test systems.
Results:
The median WBC contamination in RBC-F was 27,000 per unit in Vienna and 50,000 in Göttingen. In FFP-F, the median WBC contamination was 13,000 (Vienna) and 31,000 (Göttingen) per unit. Coagulation factors I, V, VIII, and XI in FFP-F were not different from those in FFP-C. In addition, markers for the activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis--that is, factor XIIa, prothrombin fragments, thrombin-antithrombin complexes and fibrinogen degradation products--were not greater in FFP-F.
Conclusion:
Blood components prepared from inline-filtered whole blood meet the standards for WBC-reduced RBCs and FFP. The protein profile of FFP-F is not altered, and markers for the activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis show no increase.