[Plateletpheresis with the new cell separator A 201 (Baxter)].

This report deals with our first experiences in testing the new system A 201 (Baxter Fenwal Division) for plateletpheresis in routine application. The apparatus developed from the well-known plasmapheresis equipment Autopheresis C only requires a single venipuncture and uses two separation devices. The platelet cell device produces a primary platelet concentrate. After the donor's disconnection, the platelet-containing plasma is separated into 400 ml of red cell and leucocyte-free plasma and the platelet concentrate, which is done by a rotating membrane filter of the same instrument. Plateletpheresis was performed on 34 healthy donors (26 male and 8 female), formerly experienced by other apheresis procedures. Different samples were drawn from the donors before, during and after apheresis. In comparison with other apheresis procedures there were no significant differences in the harvested platelets (3 +/- 0.7 x 10(11), but the preparations showed a higher contamination of leucocytes (3.7 +/- 3.7 x 10(8). This means a considerable disadvantage and requires improvement. Yet the advantages of this separator are obvious: Reduction of needed anticoagulation to only 6% of processed blood volume, single needle technique, safety of operation and, due to less size, more mobility.