Removal of leukocytes from blood components may prevent alloimmunization to leukocyte antigens, febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reactions, transmission of leukotropic viruses or bacteria, and graft-versus-host disease. New surface-modified
fibrous
polyester filters were evaluated; they require no special processing of blood components and can be used at the patient's bedside. Pall RC100TM (Pall Co., USA) was used to filter 2 units of RBCs at a time for a total fo 8 filtrations: mean red
cell
recovery rate was 88.7%, mean WBC removal rate 99.99%, and mean residual WBC count after filtration 2.77×10E5. Twelve units of apheresis platelets were filtered with Pall PL50TM(Pall Co., USA): mean platelet recovery rate was 90.7%, mean WBC
removal
rate 99.95%, and mean residual WBC count after filtration 6.99×10E5. This study indicates that these filters efficiently remove WBCs without significant loss of red cells or platelets and that this kind of filters can be easily used at the
patient's bedside.
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