[Microaggregates in stored blood: comparative evaluation of whole blood and buffycoat-free red cell concentrates (author's transl)].

Routine preparation of red cell concentrates in our institute removes 90% of platelets and 70% of leucocytes in whole blood. Microaggregate formation in whole blood and red cell concentrates was comparatively evaluated by blood passage through a membrane filter with a pore size of 12 micron. Dry weight residues on the filter due to microaggregates were 5 to 10 times lower in red cell concentrates as compared to whole blood at any point of a 20 day storage period. In addition, the decrease in flow rate with increasing storage time was much more marked for whole blood than for red cell concentrates.