| [ Summary ] |
Platelet concentrates (PC) derived from single donors are highly desirable in platelet transfusions. Since PC products generated by platelet apheresis have been mainly supplied from the Red Cross Blood Center, platelet transfusion from single donors only has been nearly achieved at Akita University Hospital since 1996, Each Red Cross Blood Center should supply sufficient PC products to achieve the platelet transfusion from single donors by the consideration of collection efficiencies for platelet apheresis. Contamination of white blood cells (WBCs) in PC products should be minimized, to reduce adverse transfusion reactions to PCs, caused by WBCs. Leukocyte reduction, by filtration at bedside, is widely applied. However, prestorage leukocyte depletion from PC products is highly recommended to reduce adverse reactions, due to accumulated inflammatory cytokines derived from WBCs. In addition, PC products without the necessity of leukocyte depletion by filtration, where WBC contamination is extremely low, are necessary for collection in platelet apheresis. |