PLATELETPHERESIS IN 90-POUND TO 110-POUND DONORS USING THE CS-3000 BLOOD-CELL SEPARATOR

BACKGROUND: Increases in the use of single-donor apheresis components have increased the need for platelet donors. in the United States, per sons must weigh 110 pounds or more to qualify as blood donors, and the same weight limitation has been placed on apheresis donors. Because a utomated plateletpheresis with some instruments differs considerably f rom whole-blood donation with respect to the volume of blood removed f rom the donor, the feasibility of using persons weighing between 90 an d 110 pounds as platelet donors was evaluated by the use of the CS-300 0 blood cell separator. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was perfor med using female subjects who met all usual donor requirements except for minimum weight. The standard platelet collection procedure of the instrument was used, except that the blood processing rate was manuall y selected so as to optimize the blood withdrawal and return rate in i ndividuals. Vital signs were recorded before and after donation as wer e signs or symptoms of any type of donor reaction. RESULTS: Twenty-six of 28 women completed the donation procedure; in two instances, colle ction was terminated prematurely because of an inability to maintain a dequate venous access. An average of 4.5 x 10(11) platelets were colle cted during a mean donation time of 110 minutes. All donors tolerated the procedure well, and no serious adverse reactions were seen. Becaus e of the administration of priming solution and anticoagulant during a pheresis, there was a net positive fluid balance following the procedu re, in spite of the removal of approximately 220 mt of platelet concen trate. CONCLUSION: These preliminary studies suggest that 90- to 110-p ound persons may serve as plateletpheresis donors. Additional studies are needed to more fully document the safety and efficacy of this appr oach. The use of lower-weight donors may significantly increase the nu mber of persons available to provide single-donor platelet components.