[Production of leukocyte-poor erythrocyte concentrates with bedside filtration. Effectiveness and practicability of a new filter system in comparison with 2 other systems].

The effectiveness and practicability of a new filter (Leucostop LT) for the production of leukocyte- and platelet-poor red cells at the bedside was evaluated and compared with two other leukocyte removal filter systems for bedside use (Erypur b and Sepacell R-500 A). As for the residual leukocytes and platelets, we found no essential differences between the tested filter systems: The mean value of the leukocyte contamination was between 11.2 (Leucostop) and 14.3 X 10(6) (Erypur b), the mean value of the platelets between 1.0 (Sepacell) and 3.0 X 10(9) (Erypur) per unit by filtering one red cell concentrate (RCC) through the filter. The red cell recovery after priming the system with 200 ml of saline was between 94.4% (Erypur) and 99.6% (Leucostop). The Leucostop LT system showed the highest flow rate; even 16-day-old RCC could be filtered within 60 min at the bedside, whereas with the Sepacell R-500 A system only 2- or 3-day-old RCC could be filtered in this time.