Plasma separation using a hollow fiber membrane device.

A disposable hollow fiber device was evaluated by collecting approximately 550 ml of normal donor plasma (n = 43) and by performing sham (n = 10) and therapeutic (n = 12) plasma exchanges. Blood was processed at 70 ml per min, and plasma flux averaged 23 (collection) and 25 (exchange) ml per min (mean separation efficiencies of 52 and 60%, respectively). The procedures were tolerated well by all donors and patients. The plasma hemoglobin concentration in separated plasma averaged 1 mg per dl, and cell contamination was negligible (mean of 1, 3, and 6 RBCs, platelets and WBCs/microliter, respectively). There was no evidence of in vivo classical or alternative pathway complement activation as assessed by total hemolytic complement generation (CH50), alternative pathway hemolytic activity (AP50), C3 conversion, or C5 activation, nor were unexpected changes seen in the results of laboratory tests performed after the procedure. Sieving coefficients during sham plasma exchange averaged as follows: albumin, 1.03; IgM, 1.0, IgG, 1.0; IgA, 0.98; factor V, 1.07; factor VII, 0.89; factor VIII, 1.05; and factor IX, 1.19. The device appears to be useful for separation of cell-free plasma from blood during therapeutic plasma exchange procedures.

Extended storage of single-donor platelet concentrate collected by a blood cell separator.

Use of a sealless blood pathway in a blood cell separator (CS-3000, Fenwal) permits collection of platelets in a "closed system" when saline and anticoagulant solutions are integrally attached; this in turn allows storage of instrument-collected platelet concentrates (PCs) beyond 24 hours. To evaluate extended storage of high yield PCs, cells collected with the instrument were stored (200 ml plasma) for 8 days (flatbed agitation) in either 3-liter polyvinylchloride (PL 146) containers (n = 6), polyolefin bags (PL 732) (n = 8), or two 1-liter polyolefin (double PL 732) containers (n = 8). A mean of 4.45, 4.09, and 3.94 X 10(11) platelets were stored in PL 146, single PL 732, and double PL 732, respectively; total white cells per container averaged 0.3, 0.2, and 0.2 X 10(9) for the three container systems. By day 1, platelet pO2 dropped to 14 and 16 torr in PL 146 and PL 732 PCs (pCO2, 127, and 82 torr). In contrast, double PL 732 maintained high pO2 (approximately equal to 80 torr) and low pCO2 (approximately equal to 30 torr) through day eight. Glucose declined at faster rates in PL 146 and single PL 732 containers, while lactate increased more rapidly (338 and 197 mg/dl of lactate on day four vs. 116 mg/dl for double PL 732 units). Morphology scores dropped from 400 to 98 (PL 146) and 216 (PL 732) at day four (pH values of 6.3 and 7.0), while a score of 330 was seen in double PL 732 PCs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)