Platelet Additive Solutions / 대한수혈학회지

Storage of platelet concentrates in platelet additive solution (PAS) with plasma removal has many advantages, including reduction of allergic reactions, contributing to the available plasma pool for fractionation or transfusion, and employment of pathogen reduction technology. In order to decrease platelet activation for improvement of in vivo viability, PAS should be designed for optimization of aerobic metabolism using compounds such as glucose, acetate, citrate, phosphate, and electrolytes. After a thorough discussion, particularly on the efficacy and regulations, use of the buffy coat method as well as application of a new generation of PAS may likely be the future direction of platelet storage in Korea.

Quality Assessment of Red Blood Cells, Pooled Platelets and Frozen Plasma Processed by the Buffy Coat Method / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Buffy coat method is one of the blood components processing methods widely used in many countries including Europe and Canada. For the first time in Korea, we evaluated the qualities of blood components manufactured by buffy coat method. METHODS: We collected 400 mL whole bloods using the quadruple top and bottom blood bag from thirty-five donors. Whole bloods were processed into leukoreduced RBC, leukoreduced pooled platelet, and 24 hr frozen plasma by the buffy coat method with blood bags and instruments of Fenwal and Fresenius. The qualities of each blood component were analyzed at each scheduled day, and compared with the standard guidelines of quality control in Korean Red Cross. RESULTS: The volume and hemoglobin of RBCs were lower than the standard guidelines. Comparing with the standard of apheresis platelets, leukoreduced pooled platelets showed higher total platelet yield with the median 3.70x10(11)/unit. Frozen plasma showed increased volume recovery than the standard guideline, but the activity of factor VIII at Day 35 was decreased to 0.66+/-0.14 IU/mL. CONCLUSION: We have found that the yields of pooled platelet and the frozen plasma processed by buffy coat method were higher than the standard guidelines. To introduce the buffy coat method to routine blood component separation process in Korea, further evaluations about the cost-effectiveness of buffy coat method are required.