Harvesting of granulocytes using a hydroxyethyl starch solution.

The need for sophisticated ocmponent therapy has resulted in improved techniques for obtaining concentrates of platelets and granulocytes. The use of single donors as a source for these products is advisable to avoid multiple sensitizations. Obtaining concentrated granulocytes represents a problem because of the difficulty in separating granulocytes from red blood cells by differential centrifugation or sedimentation since the specific gravities are similar. Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) makes the separation more effective. A solution made of 250 ml of 6 per cent HES, 250 ml of distilled water, and 15 g of sodium citrate in 30 ml distilled water provided a satisfactory anticoagulant solution for this purpose. The granulocytes collected averaged 49 per cent of the total available in the processed blood; the platelets averages 82 per cent. A satisfactory yield could thus be obtained from a single donor, and this could be repeated several times in a month. The value of ABO, Rh, and HL-A compatibility between donor and recipient probably increases the viability and safety of this procedure. The Haemonetic No. 30 Cell Separator provided an easy and rapid method for this procedure.