ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety of double plateletpheresis which has already become established among developed countries and to set the guidelines for the donor selection and the deferral period between blood donations for Korean blood donors METHODS: From October to November, 2003, double plateletphereses were done in 28 voluntary donors whose platelet counts were more than 200,000/microliter at the KRC Cenral, Nambu, and Dongbu blood centers. During the collection the citrate reaction and the collection time were recorded and regular cell counts were done after the collection to assess the recovery. The platelet count, pH test, and blood culture were done in all the collected platelets. RESULTS: The mean total processing volume was 4,312mL and the mean volume of the anticoagulant infused to donor was 373 mL. The average collection time was 97 minutes. Most donors complained 'slight' citrate reaction during procedures and felt the procedures 'a little boring' because of the long collection time. The platelet count counted immediately after procedures was decreased by 35.9% on the average and it took 14 days for 95% of donors to recover the 95% level of the original platelet count. The mean product volume was 501 mL and the mean platelet yield of products was 6.4 x 10 11 platelets. The pH measured at fifth day after collection was 7.3 and no aerobic bacteria was found in the culture. CONCLUSION: No significant adverse reaction was found in double plateletpheresis for Korean blood donors as compared with the existing one dose plateletpheresis. The guidelines for donor selection should include the minimum platelet count requirement with more than 200,000/microliter and the deferral period between donations should be or more 14 days.