Efficacy and safety of plateletpheresis by donors with low‐normal platelet counts

Our practice is to defer donors with blood platelet (PLT) counts of <180 × 10 9 /L because PLT yields are low, when compared to PLT units collected from donors with higher counts. In an attempt to minimize deferral, we determined whether 33 donors, who repeatedly demonstrated low‐normal PLT counts (150–180 × 10 9 /L) on multiple occasions during the prestudy period, might safely donate satisfactory apheresis PLT units simply by extending the apheresis collection time by 20 min (men) and 40 min (women). Repeat plateletpheresis procedures were scheduled at ≥28‐day intervals. The mean PLT yield (N = 92) was 5.8 × 10 11 with 97% of units containing ≥4.0 × 10 9 PLTs. Although donors entered the study only after they had repeatedly exhibited predonation PLT counts of <180 × 10 9 /L, PLT counts were not always below this level at the time of study collections. However, analyzing only donations with true predonation PLT counts of <180 × 10 9 /L (N = 35), the mean PLT yield was excellent—5.4 × 10 11 with 97% of units containing ≥4.0 × 10 11 PLTs. The average fall in donor blood PLT counts (pre‐ vs. postdonation) was 36%, with only ten of 99 postdonation counts being <100 × 10 9 /L; the lowest was 69 × 10 9 /L. Thus, extending the apheresis collection time permitted donors who in the past were routinely deferred because of low PLT counts to safely donate satisfactory PLT units.