Elena Levin

Implementation of buffy coat platelet component production: comparison to platelet-rich plasma platelet production

BACKGROUND: Buffy coat (BC) production of platelets (PLTs) has been successfully used in Europe for more than two decades. Currently, Canadian Blood Services is implementing the BC method. This article summarizes results of the validation testing performed to qualify the process of PLT production from whole blood and compares the quality of PLTs produced in routine production by either the PLT‐rich plasma method (PRP‐PCs) or the BC method (BC‐PCs).

Buffy-coat platelet variables and metabolism during storage in additive solutions or plasma

BACKGROUND: Buffy‐coat processing allows for the use of platelet additive solutions (PASs). PASs reduce plasma‐associated transfusion reactions and conserve plasma for transfusion or fractionation. Platelet (PLT) storage in plasma was compared to storage in three commercially available PASs compared to assess their influence on in vitro laboratory variables.

Effects of prestorage white cell reduction on platelet aggregate formation and the activation state of platelets and plasma enzyme systems.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of prestorage white cell (WBC) reduction in random‐donor platelet concentrates in Canada has increased the occurrence of particulate material in PCs. The effects of filtration on platelet activation state and the activation of plasma enzyme systems were assessed.

Plasma and cryoprecipitate manufactured from whole blood held overnight at room temperature meet quality standards.

BACKGROUND: With buffy coat (BC) processing of whole blood (WB) donations, the preparation of plasma occurs within 24 hours rather than 8 hours of collection. The effect of this change on coagulation factor function in plasma and cryoprecipitate was evaluated during the validation of this production method and with routine production.

Novel system for storage of buffy-coat-derived platelet concentrates in a glucose-based platelet additive solution: parameters and metabolism during storage and comparison to plasma.

Background  In Europe, buffy‐coat processing allows for the use of platelet additive solutions (PAS). These solutions, however, have long been questioned for their lack of glucose, a potentially essential nutrient for platelet storage. Using a novel, practical, two‐part system for incorporation of glucose into an additive solution (PAS‐G), this study compares platelet storage in plasma to storage in PAS‐G.

Whole blood treated with riboflavin and ultraviolet light: quality assessment of all blood components produced by the buffy coat method.

Pathogen inactivation (PI) technologies are currently licensed for use with platelet (PLT) and plasma components. Treatment of whole blood (WB) would be of benefit to the blood banking community by saving time and costs compared to individual component treatment. However, no paired, pool‐and‐split study directly assessing the impact of WB PI on the subsequently produced components has yet been reported.

Liposomes and blood cells: A flow cytometric study

To clarify the interactions of liposomes with blood cells, this study examined the behaviour of liposomes of a range of compositions in the presence of purified human blood cells in buffer or plasma; or in whole blood, or in mice in vivo. Liposomes, labeled with the hydrophilic fluorochrome, carboxy fluorescein (CF), or with membrane‐sequestering R18 or FITC‐labeled phospholipids, were mixed with blood cells and the appearance of the fluorochromes in the blood cell population was monitored by flow cytometry. Irrespective of composition, with or without poly(ethylene glycol), all types of liposomes were found to interact rapidly and dose‐dependently with red cells, leukocytes and platelets, both in vitro and in vivo. This took place equally in the presence and the absence of plasma proteins and functional enzyme cascades, suggesting that the prime facie interaction is opsonization‐independent and is consistent with liposome‐blood cell fusion.

The effect of timing of gamma-irradiation on hemolysis and potassium release in leukoreduced red cell concentrates stored in SAGM

While irradiation of red cell concentrates (RCC) prevents graft‐versus‐host disease in susceptible transfusion recipients, it also damages red blood cells (RBC). To understand the ability of irradiation regulations to prevent transfusion of inferior units, we irradiated 980 RCC in saline‐adenine‐glucose‐mannitol (SAGM) using various combinations of pre‐irradiation age and post‐irradiation storage times, and measured hemolysis and extracellular potassium levels. We observed unacceptably high hemolysis (>0·8%) in some RCC and elevated extracellular potassium levels in all gamma‐irradiated RCC. This suggests that more restrictive storage times should be considered for RCC in SAGM.

Development of a quality monitoring program for platelet components: a report of the first four years' experience at Canadian Blood Services

BACKGROUND: A quality monitoring program (QMP) for platelet concentrates (PCs) was implemented at Canadian Blood Services (CBS) to improve standards and to better understand platelet (PLT) products by supplementing routine quality control (QC).

Standardization of CD62P measurement: results of an international comparative study.

Despite long being a mainstay in describing platelet activation via degranulation, interlaboratory variation remains an issue in measurement of membrane CD62P by flow cytometry. Our objective was to identify actions that may minimize this variation.