Collection of heparinized plasma by plasmapheresis

Background and Objectives: Heparinized plasma can be used for exchange tran sfusions in neonates and is usually collected by drawing whole blood using heparin as anticoagulant. The heparinized red blood cells and buffy coat ca nnot be used and are therefore discarded. To collect heparinized plasma mor e efficiently, a method was developed using an apheresis machine. Materials and Methods: With an MCS3p apheresis machine (Haemonetics), plasma was col lected from volunteer donors as anticoagulant, heparin in saline (30,000 IU /l) was added in a 1:9 ratio. The activated partial thromboplastin time (AP TT) of the donors was measured before and immediately after the procedure, and various parameters were determined in the collected plasma. Results: In 2 collection cycles, an average of 456+/-52 ml (mean +/- SD; n = 20) of he parinized plasma was collected, and 504 +/- 57 ml (n = 2; donors with a hig h hemoglobin level) when 3 cycles were performed. The leukocyte and platele t contamination in the plasma (n = 22) was 1.11 +/- 0.92 x 10(6) and 0.05 /- 0.22 x 10(9) per unit, respectively, which conformed to national specifi cations. Sodium levels were normal, but due to dilution of the plasma with heparin solution, potassium and calcium levels were about 20% lower than th e serum levels in the donors, The donor APTT values were slightly longer af ter the procedure than before, but remained all within normal values. Concl usion: For the collection of heparinized plasma, apheresis has the advantag e that (1) high-quality heparinized plasma can be harvested; (2) no blood c omponents need to be discarded; (3) more plasma can be harvested with each donation, and (4) these procedures can be performed more often than whole b lood donations.