PLATELETAPHERESIS WITH THE NEW BAXTER-AMICUS BLOOD-CELL SEPARATOR - AN ITALIAN MULTICENTER STUDY

The efficiency and quality of platelet (PLT) collection were evaluated in a preliminary study using a new cell separator: Baxter-Amicus. The new fully automated blood cell separator combines centrifugation with elutration to obtain higher PLT efficiency with a lower white blood c ell (WBC) contamination. We compared procedures performed with the fir st software version 2.13 and the more recent 2.37 version, then with a nd without plasma collection. Data from 262 plateletapheresis procedur es were analyzed. The mean value of the PLT yield was 4.5 +/- 1.0 x 10 (11), collection efficiency: 69.4 +/- 12%; WBC contamination: 0.8 +/- 2. x 10(6); and procedure time: 73 +/- 19 minutes. The use of the new software vs the former permitted the collection of a higher number of platelets: 4.9 +/- 1.1 vs. 4.5 +/- 1.9 x 10(11) (=ns), with a lower WB C contamination: 0.6 +/- 1.0 vs 0.7 +/- 1.2 x 10(6) (p=ns), in less ti me: 63 +/- 10 vs 73 +/- 19 minutes (p=0.002). The efficiency of platel et harvesting with simultaneous plasma collection was higher than the standard procedure: 73 +/- 13 vs. 67 +/- 10% (p=0.003).