Prestorage white cell reduction in saline‐adenine‐glucose‐mannitol red cells by use of an integral filter: evaluation of storage values and invivo recovery

BACKGROUND: Prestorage white cell (WBC) reduction in blood components may decrease the incidence of adverse reactions and improve component quality. A bottom-and-top system with an integral third-generation WBC- reduction filter has been studied. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Whole blood was collected from 30 healthy donors: from 20 by using a blood container system with an integral filter and from 10 controls by using a standard blood container system. Ten test units were buffy coat- depleted, stored for 72 hours at 4 degrees C, and then filtered, while an additional 10 test units were buffy coat-depleted and filtered at room temperature within 8 hours of collection. All units were stored at 4 degrees C for 42 days and sampled weekly. RESULTS: The mean WBC content of the 72-hour, 4 degrees C units was 0.33 × 10(6), that of the room-temperature units was 2.6 × 10(6), and that of the buffy coat- depleted controls was 460 × 10(6) (p 80%) was found by both the single- and double-isotope-label methods. Recovery was significantly greater when calculated by the single-isotope method (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The combination of buffy coat removal and filtration in the blood container system with an integral filter achieved effective WBC reduction (> or = 3 log10 reduction from whole blood) without biologically significant detriment to in vitro or in vivo storage values.