Plateletpheresis with the IBM model 2997. I. Effects of ACD, NIH formula B on selected donor indices.

9 healthy subjects dosed with acid-citrate-dextrose, NIH formula B (ACD-B) while undergoing plateletpheresis with the continuous-flow IBM Model 2997 centrifuge, received on average 59.5 +/- (SD) 3.2 mg Na3 citrate.kg-1.h-1. This rate of infusion of Na3 citrate resulted in a maximum 12-fold rise in the concentration of citrate in serum (plasma) following the processing of 10 litres of whole blood, and subsequently reduced the level of total calcium in serum (plasma) by 9%. This dose of Na3 citrate produced no clinical symptoms suggestive of hypocalcaemia in these subjects, even though the use of acid-citrate-dextrose, NIH formula A (ACD-A) under identical conditions has been reported to reduce significantly the level of total calcium in serum, and concomitantly increase the number or reactions occurring in donors. From previous studies employing the intermittent-flow centrifugation system of plateletpheresis, a rate of infusion of Na3 citrate below 65 mg.kg-1.h-1 can insure maximum donor safety and this rate can be achieved with the IBM Model 2997 by the utilisation of ACD-B.