[Performance of Pall filters (RC 100 and PL 100) for the removal of leukocytes from red-cell concentrates and platelets].

20 red cell concentrates (buffy-coat not removed), 5 pools of 5 and 5 pools of 10 standards plateles concentrates, as well as 5 single donor platelet concentrates obtained through Haemonetics V50-1 cytoplasmapheresis procedure, were filtered, within 48 hours after donation, using RC 100 and PL 100 blood filters developed by Pall Company. Using the RC 100 filter on red cell concentrates, the rate of leukocyte removal exceeded 99% of the initial values. The residual leukocyte count per unit was 5.8 +/- 3.4 10(6). Leukocytes in red cell concentrates filtered after a previous one on the same filter numbered 18.6 +/- 8.9 10(6). The rate of platelet removal exceeded 97% of the initial amount. Red cell loss was 6 +/- 9% or 4 +/- 3% of a single or a subsequent unit were filtered respectively. Using the PL 100 filter on platelet concentrates, the rate of leukocyte removal exceeded 88% of the initial values. Residual leukocyte counts were 1.4 +/- 0.4 10(6), 6.2 +/- 3.8 10(6) and 1.4 +/- 0.8 10(6) respectively in 6-unit pools, 10-unit pools and machine prepared platelet concentrates. The average platelet loss was 15%. There was no evidence of alteration in the qualitative parameters of red cells or platelets. The filters were easy to handle and the time needed for the whole filtration process was remarkably short.