Method of collecting transfusable granulocytes by gravity leukopheresis

摘要

A leukopheresis process comprising removing a quantity of whole blood from the vein of a donor and depositing the blood in a plastic blood collection bag. The bag is then centrifuged in order to separate the red and white cells from the supernatant plasma and platelets. The platelet rich plasma is then expressed from the bag into a satellite bag. A solution comprising a red cell sedimenting agent in Normal Saline is then introduced into the bag containing the red and white cells. Preferably, the sedimenting agent is hydroxyethyl starch. After a short period of time, the red cells sediment to the bottom of the plastic bag, with the white cells, sedimenting agent and Saline remaining as the supernatant. The red cells are then removed from the bag, mixed with the platelet poor plasma, which is obtained by centrifuging the platelet rich plasma and removing the platelets, and the red cells and platelet poor plasma are returned to the donor by infusion into a vein. The white cells are removed from the Normal Saline and sedimenting agent solution by gravity or centrifugation, and are administered to a donee requiring granulocyte transfusions.