A Dextran Agglomeration Method for the Preparation in a Closed Plastic Bag System of Leucocyte Poor Blood for Transfusion

Abstract

A method is described for the preparation of leucocyte poor red cell suspensions for transfusion. In this method a plastic bag system is used, consisting of 4 plastic bags filled with all the solutions necessary for the dextran agglomeration technique. The donor packed cells are allowed to flow into this system and the inlet tube is sealed. Consequently all manipulations are performed in a ‘closed’ system, which prevent bacterial contamination. The very short time (15 min) necessary for the sedimentation steps is the fundamental difference with earlier described methods of dextran sedimentation. The described procedure makes it possible to obtain ‘leucocyte poor’ blood with relative ease and without specially instructed technicians. Approximately 1% of the leucocytes remain in the treated packed cells, the red cell recovery is over 80 %.