Development of Method for Preparation of Leukocyte Reduced Red Blood Cells by Centrifugation with Satellite Bags

Abstract

        Transfusion of eligible blood components can reduce the adverse effect of blood transfusion reaction, especially in patients such as thalassemia who receive blood transfusion frequently. Using of leukocyte reduced red blood cells is able to diminish the febrile non hemolytic transfusion reaction, however, this type of blood component is more expensive than the regular pack red cells. In addition, in low weight children having thalassemia disease, physicians always request small amount of red blood cells (e.g. 100-150 ml) for treatment. To prepare blood for this situation, leukocyte reduced red blood cells have to transfer from a primary bag to a transfer bag at the desired amount. The primary blood bag will be fused to the transfer bag by using a tube fusion machine. Leukocyte reduced red blood cells will be, then, transferred from the primary bag to the transfer bag in a close system. By this procedure, the obtained blood can be stored for a long period. However, this system cannot be easily done in general hospitals as the tube fusion machine is very expensive. To avoid using this expensive instrument, transferring blood from a primary bag to a transfer bag may be done in an open system. By this open system, however, the obtained blood has to be used within 24 hours. To solve this problem, in this study, a new method for preparation of leukocyte reduced red blood cells was established by using centrifugation with transfer bag. The developed method can be used to prepare leukocyte reduced red blood cells in a close system. From one primary bag, 2-3 bags of leukocyte reduced red blood cells can be obtained for treatment of children. The obtained bloods have the recommended qualities either in volume, number of residual leukocytes and hematocrit. The obtained red blood cells are appropriated for blood transfusion. The developed method is introduced for preparation of leukocyte reduced red blood cells without using of any expensive instrument and is very suitable for applying in the resource limited hospitals.