Donor Plasmapheresis: A Comparative Study using four Different Types of Equipment

Abstract

From September 1985 to May 1986, 106 healthy volunteers underwent automated plasmapheresis in our Institution (CT-AVIS, PAVIA) using four different types of equipment. The aim of this study was to verify the feasibility of harvesting plasma from a single donor and to ascertain: 1) the acceptability of the procedure to donors; 2) the speed, economy and safety of the different types of equipment; 3) the quality of the plasma. The equipment employed in this study was: a) PCS (Plasma Collection System-Haemonetics) b) FILTRA (Dideco) c) PLASMAPUR (Organon Teknika). d) AUTOPHERESIS C™ - (Hemascience). All four used a single-needle technique. Procedures were well tolerated by donors; no significant changes were observed in pre- and post- procedure laboratory values.