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. 2022 Feb;32(1):53-63.
doi: 10.1111/tme.12830. Epub 2021 Nov 10.

Recovery of platelet-rich red blood cells and acquisition of convalescent plasma with a novel gravity-driven blood separation device

Dion Osemwengie  1 , Johan W Lagerberg  2   3 , Richard Vlaar  2   3 , Erik Gouwerok  2   3 , Mya Go  2   3 , Arno P Nierich  1   4 , Dirk de Korte  2   3
Affiliations

Recovery of platelet-rich red blood cells and acquisition of convalescent plasma with a novel gravity-driven blood separation device

Dion Osemwengie et al. Transfus Med. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: Our objectives were to determine the separation characteristics and blood product quality of a gravity-driven microfiltration blood separation system (HemoClear, The Netherlands).

Background: A range of centrifugal blood separation devices, including intraoperative cell salvage devices (cell savers) and apheresis machines, are available to assist in preparing both allogenic and autologous blood products. These devices are expensive to operate and require extensive training.

Methods and materials: Nine whole blood units were collected under standard conditions and analysed for haematological parameters, thromboelastographic properties, platelet morphology and activation, and red blood cell (RBC) deformability and morphology. Three whole blood units were separated by means of the HemoClear device, into a liquid and cellular component. The cellular component was diluted with SAGM and cold stored for 14 days. To simulate cell salvage six whole blood units were diluted with isotonic saline, followed by multiple HemoClear separation rounds.

Results: The recovery of both RBCs (100 ± 1.6%) and white blood cells (99 ± 4.5%) after undiluted filtration were very high, while platelet recovery was high (83 ± 3.0%). During the filtration, and cold storage after filtration storage both the non-deformable RBC fraction and the RBC maximum elongation remained stable. Parameters of thromboelastography indicated that platelets remain functional after filtration and after 7 days of cold storage. In the cell salvage simulation the total protein load in the cellular fraction was reduced by 65 ± 4.1% after one washing round and 84 ± 1.9% after two consecutive washing rounds.

Conclusion: The novel blood filter studied effectively separates whole blood into diluted plasma and platelet-rich RBCs. Moreover, the device effectively washed diluted whole blood, driving over 80% of proteins to the liquid component.

Keywords: autologous blood; autologous blood technology; blood filter; blood separation; cell salvage; cell salvage technology; convalescent plasma; platelet-rich RBC.

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Conflict of interest statement

Arno Nierich is the inventor of the HemoClear device, holds patent right to the device's technology and owns shares in HemoClear BV. Dion Osemwengie is employed by HemoClear BV.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Blood separation system setup. (A) The HemoClear device while filtering. (B) Blood separation system in which the HemoClear filters is centralised between two blood bags and a filtrate bag that contains the liquid component. To the initial blood bag, washing solution can be added by means of three‐way tubing. (C) HemoClear cross‐flow microfiltration technology. (D) Cell salvage simulation protocol. (E) Blood separation protocol
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Cellular recovery. Error bars indicate SDs. (A) Cell salvage simulation mean percentual recoveries of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets (PLTs) in the cellular component per filtration round and over all three filtration rounds. (B) Mean percentage of haemolysis in the cellular components produced in the cell salvage simulation. (C) Mean percentual recovery of RBCs, WBCs and PLTs after undiluted separation into the liquid and cellular components. (D) Mean percentage of haemolysis in the cellular component produced in by undiluted separation
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Red blood cell (RBC) deformability and morphology, and free potassium for the undiluted separation protocol. Mean values, error bars indicate SD. (A) Percentage of RBCs that are echinocytes in the undiluted separation protocol. (B) Percentage of non‐deformable RBCs in the undiluted separation protocol. (C) Maximal elongation in the undiluted separation protocol. (D) Concentration of free potassium in mmol/L
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Platelet morphology and activation. Mean values, error bars indicate SDs. (A) Morphology score. (B) Percentage of platelets displaying CD62P, as an indication of platelet activation. (C) Percentage of discoid platelets
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Cell salvage simulation washing effectiveness and red blood cell (RBC) morphology and deformability. Mean total protein in grams, error bars indicate SD. (A) Total protein load in grams. (B) Concentration of free potassium in mmol/L. (C) Percentage of RBCs that are echinocytes in the cell salvage simulation. (D) Percentage of non‐deformable RBCs in the cell salvage simulation. (E) Maximal elongation in the cell salvage simulation
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