Technical Aspects of Buffy Coat Removal from whole Blood and those of Platelet Production from single Buffy Coat Units - Technische Aspekte der Entfernung des Buffy-coat und der Herstellung des Einzelnplättchenkonzentrates

Technical aspects of buffy coat removal and those of platelet production from the buffy coat were studied using the so-called Amsterdam technique. A long stomach clamp physically separates the buffy coat from erythrocyte concentrate. A better removal of platelets and leukocytes was obtained when blood stored overnight was processed vs. fresh blood. As 71.4 +/- 16.4% of leukocytes was removed from blood stored overnight, it resulted in a mean leukocyte content of 0.84 +/- 0.52 x 10(-9) of the erythrocyte concentrate. The haematocrit of the single buffy coat units have an essential impact on platelet production from buffy coat. A haematocrit of less than 30% seems to be preferable with a volume over 100 ml. The leukocyte contamination of the platelet concentrate is less when it is produced from blood stored overnight.