Preparation of white-cell-poor blood components using a quadruple bag system.

A method for the preparation of white-cell-poor red cells from 400 ml of blood collected in a quadruple bag with one 80-ml and two 300-ml satellite bags is described. In this procedure, a platelet concentrate was prepared from the buffy coat fraction obtained by the first centrifugation of whole blood. After centrifugation of whole blood for 5 minutes at 3500 X g, the plasma was transferred into the 300-ml bag until the interface of red cells and plasma reached a level 32 mm from the top of the bag; then approximately 70 g of plasma and buffy coat were collected into the 80-ml bag. The buffy coat fraction was centrifuged further for 5 minutes at 170 X g, and the supernatant (concentrated platelets in plasma) was transferred into the second 300-ml bag. In this blood processing, the recovery of red cells into the packed red cells and of platelets into the platelet concentrate was 93 +/- 4 percent and 52 +/- 13 percent, respectively, of the original value. White cells in the packed red cells were 70 +/- 28 X 10(7) with recovery of 32 +/- 9 percent of the original value, and the lymphocytes in the white cells were only 7 +/- 5 X 10(7) (7 +/- 4% of the original value). White cell contamination of platelet concentrate was below the threshold of white cell detection by the microcell counter (less than 300 cells per microliter of concentrate).