Prospective randomised concurrent comparison of the COBE Spectra Version 4.7, COBE Spectra Version 6 (Auto PBSC (TM)), and haemonetics MCS+ cell separators for leucapheresis in patients with haematological and non haematological malignancies

A prospective study of three cell separators was undertaken to compare the mononuclear cell, CD34+ cell and CFU-GM yield. Twenty patients were entered in the study; all had received chemotherapy and daily G-CSF (5 mug/kg subc utaneously) up to and including the fir st day of leucapheresis. The first leucapheresis was performed on the first day the peripheral blood absolute CD34+ ceil count was greater than or equal to 20 cells/mul. All patients un derwent two leucaphereses on consecutive days. The patients were randomised to undergo either the first or second leucapheresis using the COBE Spectra Version 4.7 and then randomised to either the COBE Spectra Version 6 or Ha emonetics MCS+ for the other leucapheresis. The target durations of the pro cedure on the COBE Spectra Version 4.7 and Version 6 were 180 minutes or 2 total blood volumes (TBV), and for the Haemonetics MCS+ was 20 cycles with four recirculations. All machines were operated on the 1997 software suppli ed by the respective manufacturers. The time taken for the procedure was si gnificantly longer with both the Haemonetics MCS+ and the COBE Spectra Vers ion 6 than the COBE Spectra Version 4.7. Both COBE Spectra versions process ed significantly larger volumes of blood than the Haemonetics MCS+. The abs olute yield of mononuclear cells, CFU-GM and CD34+ cells were all significa ntly lower with the Haemonetics MCS+ compared with both COBE Spectra versio ns, as were the yields per unit volume of blood processed. The product volu me was significantly higher with the COBE Spectra Version 4.7 compared to t hr other two machines. There was no significant difference in the reduction in the platelet count following leucapheresis with any of the machines. Th e COBE Spectra Version 6 is particularly useful for patients with potential ly poor peripheral venous access because of its increased interface stabili ty. J. Clin. Apheresis 15:225-229, moo. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss. Inc.