The Utilisation of a New Strength Citrate Anticoagulant during Centrifugal Plateletpheresis

Employing the Haemonetics Blood Processor (IFC), a relatively pure platelet concentrate can be prepared by collecting only the first portion of the PRP leaving the centrifuge bowl (Fraction I). A subsequent fraction containing RBC and WBC contaminants (Fraction II) can be purified by means of a second centrifugation, using a conventional blood bank centrifuge (Fraction II), if transfusion of these contaminants would be detrimental to the recipient. Utilising the new 1.4% Na3-citrate anticoagulant, platelet metabolic parameters (ATP, ADP, AMP, lactate and pyruvate) as well as O2-uptake, were determined in Fraction I and II prepared from 10 normal healthy subjects. In contrast to previous studies reporting marked dysfunction in platelets contained in Fraction II when standard ACD-A was used during IFC, we observed no significant difference (Student's t test) in the present study between Fractions I and II, in regard to platelet metabolism, when using the new anticoagulant. It is further concluded that the second centrifugal manipulation does not exert a detrimental effect on platelet metabolism.