Jürgen Ringwald

Sample preparation technique and white cell content influence the detectable levels of growth factors in platelet concentrates

Background and Objectives  Autologous platelet concentrate (PC) is applied locally to improve wound healing and tissue repair. Previous measurements of the growth factor content of platelets have given conflicting results. To date, there is no information on the influence of different preanalytical sample‐preparation methods on the detectable amount of growth factors.

Hyperconcentrated platelets stored in additive solution: aspects on productivity and in vitro quality

Background and Objectives  New platelet (PLT) additive solutions (PASs) allow a plasma carryover of < 30% in PLT concentrates. This implicates the need to collect apheresis PLT concentrates at very high PLT concentrations: so‐called dry PLTs (DPs). We used the TRIMA, with software version 4 (TRIMA V4), to collect such DPs and investigated the in vitro quality of these PLTs when stored in the new modified PAS‐III (PAS‐IIIM).

Preparation of highly concentrated and white cell-poor platelet-rich plasma by plateletpheresis

Background and Objectives  Contaminating white blood cells (WBC) contribute remarkably to the overall growth factor content of locally applicable platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) or platelet (PLT) gel and change the relative proportions of the contained growth factors.

Cord blood processing with an automated and functionally closed system

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord blood processing with standard centrifugation techniques is performed in open systems and results in varying cell and volume recoveries.

Ischemic Stroke in an Obese Patient Receiving Dabigatran

An obese man (BMI, 44.7) with atrial fibrillation who was receiving dabigatran for thromboprophylaxis presented with an ischemic stroke. Dabigatran levels during observed administration were less than the 25th percentile of the therapeutic trough level.

Washing platelets with new additive solutions: aspects on the in vitro quality after 48 hours of storage

BACKGROUND:  Rare clinical conditions cause the need for washed platelet (PLT) concentrates (PCs). Saline‐washed PCs can only be stored shortly, however, owing to lack of substrates for PLT metabolism. New PLT additive solutions (PASs) contain such substrates and might be used alternatively. The in vitro quality of apheresis PCs washed with Composol‐PS or modified PAS‐III (PAS‐IIIM) stored up to 48 hours after wash was compared.

First comparison of productivity and citrate donor load between the Trima® version 4 (dual‐stage filler) and the Trima Accel® (single‐stage filler) in the same donors

Background and Objectives  Aside from new software the blood cell separator TRIMA (GambroBCT) also received a newly designed separation chamber offering a novel single stage separation technology, called Trima Accel. We evaluated this new system focusing on productivity and donor comfort by comparing it to the previous version (Trima version 4) in collecting single‐donor platelet concentrates (SD‐PCs) and plasma.

The in vitro quality of washed, prestorage leucocyte-depleted red blood cell concentrates.

Background and Objectives  No data are currently available on the quality of washed prestorage leucocyte‐depleted red blood cell concentrates (RCCs).

Why do some apheresis donors donate blood just once

Background and Objectives  More knowledge about the reasons for non‐return of blood donors (BD) would enable blood donation services (BDS) to improve the efficacy of recruitment and retention programmes. We interviewed returning (RBD) and non‐returning apheresis BDs (NRBD) of our university hospital‐based BDS.

Frequently used plateletpheresis techniques result in variable target yields and platelet recruitment of donors

BACKGROUND: Standard plateletpheresis techniques and effects on platelet (PLT) donors were investigated to provide an informative basis for advancement of apheresis software.