Donor selection criteria to maximize double platelet products (DPP) by platelet apheresis.

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease brought us to perform a study to diminish donor exposure from transfusion of platelet concentrates. The current study aimed to develop donor selection criteria that maximize the likelihood of deriving single donor platelets and producing double platelet products (DPP). Donors were recruited among plasmapheresis donors and among other donors when the selected donors did not show up. Donor precount and body weight and haematocrit were examined as determinants of higher split-rates combined with procedure time. When the criterion was set on 225; 82% of the procedures (n=717) with a precount of >225 yielded DPP compared to 54% of the procedures with a precount <225 (p<.01). Body weight >65 kg gave good results in split-rate. Procedure time showed an inverse correlation with the highest correlating precount (r=-.14; p<.001). Eighty one percent of the donors reported a willingness to donate at least seven times a year and 75% accepted the mean procedure time. This confirmed logistical feasibility of the conversion to AP-PC although profits would be reduce 13% compared to platelets from pooled buffy coats.