Objective: Two different types of polyolefin storage containers were compared in order to estimate their ability to preserve apheresis platelet concentrates for 5 days.
Material and methods: Ten pairs each consisting of one patient with thrombocytopenia following chemotherapy and one healthy platelet apheresis donor were examined. The platelet concentrates stored in the LE-2 bag were collected with a Fresenius AS 104 cell separator and those stored in the PL 732 with a Fenwal CS 3000.
Results: The separation efficiency of both cell separators was similar; the mean yields were 3.37 +/- 0.83 x 10(11) platelets in 274 +/- 26 ml for the AS 104 and 3.87 +/- 1.31 x 10(11) platelets in 318 +/- 22 ml for the CS 3000 (mean +/- SD). Storage for 5 days did not influence the platelet count significantly. The platelet loss due to filtration was 16 and 13%, respectively. The mean platelet volume obtained with both systems was reduced from a mean of 8.4 fl immediately after harvesting to 7.6 fl after storage (p < 0.0001) and to 7.3 fl after filtration (p = 0.001). The established corrected count increments (CCI) and the pre- and posttransfusion platelet counts were satisfactory and comparable for the 2 systems tested. The mean CCI of the AS 104-LE-2 system was 14.5 1 h and 7.4 x 10(9) platelets 24 h after transfusion, the mean CCI of the CS 3000-PL 732 system was 12.5 and 5.2 x 10(9) platelets, respectively.
Conclusions: Single-donor apheresis concentrates with a large platelet content may be stored in the new LE-2 polyolefin container for up to 5 days and used in clinical transfusion.