New Happenings at the Blood Center of New Jersey

Automated Red Blood Cell Collections for Autologous Patients

In February 2003, we introduced to qualified patients, the ability to donate two units of autologous red blood cells during a single visit to the blood center rather than through two separate manual whole blood donations during two separate visits.

The procedure is called a double red cell donation and is performed using the TRIMA apheresis system (Cobe Gambro).  Currently the Blood Center of New Jersey is also using this technology on our apheresis donors to collect platelets, plasma, and or red blood cells in any one of a number of different combinations based on donor ABO, body size and CBC counts. 

The automated technology allows red blood cells to be collected with little loss of plasma.  Currently, a whole blood collection results in the plasma being discarded.  In addition, the product will be consistent and have a standardized red cell content.  Each red cell unit will contain either 140 ml or 180 ml of absolute red cell mass.  This will be suspended in 100 ml of AS3 anticoagulant for 42 day storage.  Red cell volume is dependent upon the size and hematocrit of the donor/patient.  The apheresis kit uses a single needle, 17 gauge.  This is smaller than the 16 gauge needle used for whole blood donation so patient comfort should be increased.  Donation time is approximately 35-40 minutes.

We recommend that your patients meet the following criteria to donate for this procedure: weight of 140 lbs or greater and hematocrit of 39%.  There will be a two week donation interval between double red cell donations.  Eligibility will be determined by our staff at the time of donation.  Patients requiring medical clearance forms due to underlying medical conditions will not be eligible at this point in time.  As part of the donation process, the donor /patient will receive saline to replace the blood volume donated.  This will provide a state of euvolemia which decreases the donor reactions seen in 1% of blood donations.

Currently this type of donation is available exclusively at our Parsippany facility but within a short period of time will be introduced into our West Orange facility.  Sometime in the third or fourth quarter of the year, automated technology may be introduced into our hospital collection facilities.  There is no need to specifically order this procedure as all patients will be screened for eligibility for the procedure if they are going to a donation site that offers the automated donation process.  Assuming the patient concurs, the donation will be done via automation.  Ineligible or unwilling patients will be collected using the current whole blood process.

I hope you agree that double red cell donations will be a benefit to your patients donating autologous blood.  Our fees for autologous donor/patient processing and handling fees will not be increased for this new procedure.  Please feel free to contact me at 973-676-4700x102 if you have any questions regarding this new procedure.

Eric Senaldi, MD
Director of Medical Affairs