Platelet‐Pheresis Description of a New Technic

A new method of closed‐system platelet‐pheresis is described, utilizing plastic bowls which can be attached directly to standard laboratory centrifuges. The unique features of this system are those of: simplicity, speed, and safety. The assembled bags, centrifuge bowl, and tubulations remain connected to the donor throughout the platelet separation, obviating the possibility of returning reconstituted red cells or plasma to the wrong donor. Data are presented on 24 experiments of up to 4 units of whole blood each. Studies with the platelets isolated in this manner show retention of essentially normal function. Preliminary in‐vivo data suggest a similar normalcy and circulatory effectiveness.