A comparative analysis of blood component preparation by Two automated blood processing techniques.

Abstract

Objective : To evaluate and compare two automated blood processing techniques [“Top & Bottom” (Optipress®I) and “Top & Top” (T-ACE II)].

Materials/Methods : Blood components were separated using 200 TERUFLEX® blood bags for the T-ACE II technique and 200 Optipac® blood bags for the Optipress®I technique. An analysis of blood products (FP, red cell:AS-BCR, and LPPCs) in terms of their characteristics was done using CELL DYN 1700 version 1.01, and the efficiency of blood bag systems and automated blood processing techniques was compared.

Results : T-ACE II showed a statistically significant higher residual platelet content in the FP bags compared to Optipress®I (18.61±11.21x109 and 14.24±8.58x109 respectively, P<.001), but showed a statistically significant lower residual leukocyte content than Optipress®I (0.056±0.01x109 and 0.064±0.03x109 respectively, P<.001). The red cell:AS-BCR bags prepared from T-ACE II showed a statistically lower WBC removal compared to Optipress®I (77.23±8.40% and 82.06±8.41% respectively, P<.001). In the recovery of RBCs, these was a lower red cell loss from the red cell:AS-BCR bags prepared from T-ACE II than from Optipress®I (78.31±5.67% and 76.76±8.96% respectively, P=.04). The LPPCs obtained from BC bags of T-ACE II showed statistically lower platelet yields than LPPCs obtained from BC bags of Optipress®I (328.67±54.23x109 and 369.93±58.37x109 respectively, P=.001).

Conclusion : T-ACE II demonstrated an improvement in RBC recovery. Optipress®I improved in WBC removal in red cell:AS-BCR, platelet yields in LPPCs. However, the quality of blood products from both T-ACE II and Optipress®I techniques were of the same standard.

Key Word : Automated Blood Processing / Buffy Coat Method / Quality Control of Blood Components