Donor safety in triple plateletpheresis: results from the German and Austrian Plateletpheresis Study Group multicenter trial

Abstract

TP results in an increase in mild donor reactions but does not significantly impair donor safety or product quality.

Study of Adverse Donor Reaction of Plateletpheresis in a Tertiary Care Centre of North India

“…As nearly all red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC) can be returned to the donor, it is common practice to repeat apheresis donations at close intervals. [1] Increased demand for platelet transfusion implies the need to recruit greater numbers of donors and ensuring the safety of donors is a crucial factor in recruitment. [2][3][4] The various types of adverse events as hypotension during apheresis donation can result due to many causes but the most common is vasovagal reactions and citrate toxicity and include light headache, hot flashes, pallor, nausea, vomiting, decreased heart rate and decreased blood pressure.…”

Why has the demand for platelet components increased? A commentary

“…While there is solid evidence that standard apheresis does not harm the donor, these data are based primarily on single apheresis procedures. However, to fulfil the increasing demand requests and because of budget restrictions, apheresis platelet concentrates are already produced preferentially by double apheresis and more recently even triple and quadruple apheresis had been propagated (Heuft et al , ). We have no information on which long‐term changes are triggered in the donor by such intensified apheresis protocols.…”

The argument(s) for lowering the US minimum required content of apheresis platelet components

“…This strategy would maintain the current split rate and reduce the risk of intermittent shortages by increasing donor retention. Studies have shown that double and triple platelet collections proportionately extend the time that donors are on the apheresis machine and increase the proportion of donors reporting adverse events, such as headaches, cramps, paresthesias, phlebotomy site hematomas, dizziness, faints, and so on . Donors who suffer adverse events are more likely to discontinue a collection procedure and are less likely to return to donate again .…”

“…Studies have shown that double and triple platelet collections proportionately extend the time that donors are on the apheresis machine and increase the proportion of donors reporting adverse events, such as headaches, cramps, paresthesias, phlebotomy site hematomas, dizziness, faints, and so on . Donors who suffer adverse events are more likely to discontinue a collection procedure and are less likely to return to donate again . Concerns about donor safety have led the FDA to restrict the frequency of double and triple platelet collections in the United States to once every 7 days, and to a restriction by the German authorities to a maximum yield per apheresis donation of 8 × 10 11 platelets .…”