In-vitro blood compatibility studies on a new polymer-coated charcoal for haemoperfusion.

The blood compatibility of new polyhema-coated charcoal (Biotec) has been studied in an in-vitro haemoperfusion circuit. The mean inlet platelet levels after 4 hours of perfusion were 99.5 +/- SE 4.2% of the initial value and mean white cell levels were 81.9 +/- SE 5.8% of initial. No rises in Swank screen filtration pressure were detected. Initial evaluation of this charcoal in patients with fulminant hepatic failure should be possible without platelet-protective agents.