Granulocyte collection using a novel apheresis system eases the procedure and provides concentrates of high quality

Background The latest technical innovation for granulocyte ( PMN ) collections is the fully automated S pectra O ptia ( O ptia) device ( TerumoBCT ). In a retrospective investigation we evaluated the impact of the technical automation on the product quality in a routine working field. Study Design and Methods A total of 71 granulocyte collections ( GC s) were collected from either routine random blood donors, mobilized with prednisolone ( P ; two females/23 males; median age, 42 years; range, 25‐63 years), or family donors (three females/12 males; median age, 29 years; range, 21‐59 years) who were mobilized with recombinant human granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor ( rHuG ‐ CSF ) at a dose of 5 μg/kg body weight. All collections were performed with the O ptia device. Fifty‐nine concentrates ( GTX ) produced with the C obe S pectra ( C obe; TerumoBCT ) served as a historical control. Results In total a mean of 452 ± 60  mL with a mean purity of 83 ± 9.6% PMNs was collected with the O ptia. Compared with the C obe collections (298 ± 52  mL ), the product volumes in general as well as the absolute PMN yield in P ‐mobilized products were significantly higher with the O ptia: PMN count, 1.9 × 10 10  ± 0.49 × 10 10 versus 1.5 × 10 10  ± 0.85 × 10 10 , respectively (p < 0.05), due to higher white blood cell ( WBC ) yields. rHuG ‐ CSF –mobilized products showed no significant differences in the absolute WBC (7.2 ± 3.0/ O ptia vs. 7.0 ± 2.1/ C obe) and PMN (5.9 ± 2.6/ O ptia vs. 5.7 ± 1.9/ C obe) yield. The PMN purity was equal in both devices (mean, 83%) although it was slightly lower in the rHuG ‐ CSF group (82 ± 9.2%) than in the P group (84 ± 6.2%). In none of the procedures were side effects recorded. Conclusion GC with the fully automated O ptia device is safe for donors, is not inferior to its forerunner C obe S pectra, produces GTX of a high quality, and requires less manpower than the C obe S pectra.