Comparison of blood component preparation methods from whole blood bags based on buffy coat extraction.

We compared the data of our quality control laboratory of the blood components according to the blood component preparation method that we used. We prepared blood components from top and top whole blood (WB) bags and manual pooling of buffy coats (BCs) (method I) or from top and bottom WB bags and automated pooling of BCs with OrbiSac (method II). Pooled platelet concentrates (PC) obtained with method II had higher platelet content when compared with pooled PCs obtained with method I (3.5+/-0.7x10(11) vs. 2.6+/-0.8x10(11); p<0.001). The hemoglobin content in the RBCs obtained with method I was higher when compared with method II (55+/-7g vs. 52.5+/-6.6g; p<0.001).