Collection, storage, inspection and quality control of platelet concentrates obtained by apheresis: The situation in Spain.

Background: Diverse variables are involved in apheresis platelet collection, processing and storage. This survey shows how these are realized in Spain.

Method: An analysis of collected data was performed in a questionnaire completed by ten Transfusion Centers (TC) which perform between 50 and 520 apheresis procedures per month.

Efficacy and safety of fibrin glue and tranexamic acid to prevent postoperative blood loss in total knee arthroplasty: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Postoperative blood loss in patients after total knee arthroplasty may cause local and systemic complications and influence clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to assess whether fibrin glue or tranexamic acid reduced blood loss compared with routine hemostasis in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: A randomized, single-center, parallel, open clinical trial was performed in adult patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty.

Automated preparation of whole blood-derived platelets suspended in two different platelet additive solutions and stored for 7 days.

Background: The Atreus system (Terumo BCT) automates the preparation of blood components from whole blood donations. Intermediate platelet (PLT) products can be pooled manually or with the OrbiSac (Terumo BCT) and suspended in different PLT additive solutions (PASs) to obtain PLT concentrates (PCs). The aim of our study was to compare the in vitro PLT quality of PCs obtained with either the Atreus 2C+ and the OrbiSac or the Atreus 3C and suspended in PAS-II or PAS-IIIM during storage for up to 7 days.

A multi-centre study of therapeutic efficacy and safety of platelet components treated with amotosalen and ultraviolet A pathogen inactivation stored for 6 or 7 d prior to transfusion.

Bacteria in platelet components (PC) may result in transfusion-related sepsis (TRS). Pathogen inactivation of PC with amotosalen (A-PC) can abrogate the risk of TRS and hence facilitate storage to 7 d. A randomized, controlled, double-blinded trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of A-PC stored for 6-7 d was conducted.

Efficacy in reducing potassium load in irradiated red cell bags with a potassium adsorption filter.

Background: The transfusion of red cell (RBC) bags with high amounts of potassium (K(+)) causes concern about an increased risk of cardiac arrest because of transient hyperkalemia. To prevent K(+) overload, a K(+) adsorption filter (PAF) is available for use at bedside. The aim of the present study was to analyze the efficacy in reducing K(+) load in irradiated RBC bags with this PAF.

Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in at-risk blood donors in Catalonia (Spain).

Background: The increasing arrival of Latin Americans to Europe and, particularly, to Spain has led to the appearance of new pathologies, such as Chagas disease, a zoonotic infection endemic to rural areas of Central and South America. In the absence of the triatomid vector, one of the main modes of transmission of Chagas disease in nonendemic regions is through blood transfusion.

Study Design And Methods: The Catalonian Blood Bank has implemented a screening program for Chagas disease in at-risk blood donors and has performed a study to determine the seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the donor population.

Late seroconversion of C virus markers in hemodialysis patients.

We examined the prevalence of the IgG C virus C 100-3 antibody (anti-HCV) in a group of 43 patients on hemodialysis in our center during three periods: A: 1988; B: 1989; C: 1990. During period A, the anti-HCV prevalence was 30% (13 of 43 patients), these patients being regarded as chronic carriers of these antibodies. In period B, two patients displayed seroconversion, and another seven during period C, all of whom had tested negative during period A.

[Automatic reading of ABO and Rh groups on microplates using FMC medium and an IBG Systems reader].

We present in this paper our experience in the routine use of an automatic reader for microtiter plates (IBG Systems). A total of 2044 samples from blood donors have been tested for ABO (haematic and seric) and Rh (D antigen) blood group typing. The red blood cell samples have been tested against monoclonal anti-A, anti-B, anti-AB and anti-Rh 1 (D) sera (using two different anti-D reagents).