Response to vWF‐coated beads and soluble p‐selectin to characterize apheresis platelets: a comparison of three cell separators

BACKGROUND: Plateletpheresis technologies differ among various cell separators. Differences in centrifugation force, centrifugation time, and platelet concentration in the platelet concentrate may affect platelet activation and function. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In a three-way crossover design, 12 donors were randomly assigned to three types of cell separators, two continuous flow systems (Amicus DN, Fenwall Division, Baxter and Spectra LRS, Gambro BCT) and one intermittent flow system (MCS+, Haemonetics). The response to vWF-coated beads was determined in the peripheral blood and fresh platelet concentrates to obtain information about the initiating step of platelet aggregation, that is, platelet adhesion. Levels of soluble p-selectin were measured as a marker of platelet activation. RESULTS: Platelet yield and concentration of platelets were higher in platelet concentrates obtained with the Amicus DN than with the Spectra LRS or the MCS+. Maximal aggregation was significantly higher in platelets from the Amicus DN than in platelets from the Spectra LRS or the MCS+. Higher concentrations of soluble p-selectin were seen in platelet concentrates obtained with the Amicus DN than in concentrates from the Spectra LRS or the MCS+, but they did not differ after correction for the number of platelets per component. CONCLUSIONS: Different plateletpheresis procedures induced distinct changes of platelet function. Platelets collected using the Amicus DN retained the strongest adhesion capacity irrespective of their activation.