Leuko-reduction using an integral Sepacell filter early (4 h, 24 h) or late (48 h, 120 h) after plateletpheresis does not affect platelet function.

Leuco-reduction of aliquots of single-donor platelet concentrates with an integral Sepacell PLS-5A filter was performed 4, 24, and 48 h after apheresis including a control after 120 h (not recommended by the manufacturer) to evaluate the effect of both early and late filtration on the concentrates in a paired study. Highly efficient (> 2 log10) leuko-reduction was consistently observed for filtration any time after apheresis. Various proaggregatory stimuli were tested to determine the stimulus concentration (EC50 values) required for half-maximal aggregation of platelet samples (200 platelets/nl). Neither glycoprotein IIb/IIIa-dependent (thrombin-, collagen-, and APD-induced) nor glycoprotein Ib-mediated (ristocetin-induced) platelet function were affected by filtration 4, 24, 48, or 120 h after plateletpheresis. For single-donor plateletpheresis using a closed system with an integral Sepacell filter, our in vitro results suggest that the timing of leuko-reduction does not affect the platelet-dependent hemostatic qualities of the product.