Factors influencing yield of plateletpheresis by discontinuous centrifugation

Abstract

Plateletphereses performed by the Haemonetics Model 30 Blood Processor under a fixed condition were retrospectively analyzed. The mean platelet yield was 5.97 × 10^ll (± l.46 × 10^ll. Prepheresis platelet count was significantly correlated to platelet yield (p < 0.001), but hematocrit was not (p > 0.1). Blood‐drawing time showed a significant correlation (p < 0.01) and may suggest than an infusion rate of 60 ml/minute is a technique of choice. A large number of platelets (% platelet recovery = 73.0 ± 14.1%) was discarded in order to remove erythrocytes and leukocytes from the initial product. The recovery was negatively correlated to the percentage removal of leukocytes (p < 0.01), which means that a platelet product of good quality not containing leukocytes can be prepared at the sacrifice of a large quantity of platelets. It is desirable to devise a simple and practical technique to obtain pure platelets without loss.