Conversion from Platelet-Rich Plasma Platelet Production to Buffy Coat Platelet Component Production: Benefits and Limitations

Blood transfusion centers are under considerable pressure to produce platelet concentrates with high quality and safety due to the short shelf life of 3-5 days as well as possible bacterial and viral contaminations. For a variety of reasons, many Europeans have changed their methods of component production from whole blood using the North American standard platelet-rich plasma method to the buffy coat method of platelet production. Many advantages and some limitations during conversion from platelet-rich plasma method to buffy coat method have been observed. It seems that decisions to switch from platelet-rich plasma method to buffy coat method with whole blood component production should be considered; the benefits from increased platelet yield, improved platelet quality, increased plasma recovery, reduced blood transfusion adverse reactions and lower pathogen transmission rates compared to the platelet-rich plasma method outweigh any transient difference in red cell parameters or inconsiderable reduction of factor VIII activity. The purpose of this review is to discuss the quality, safety and economic aspects of blood components production during conversion from platelet-rich plasma to buffy coat method in preparing blood components which may benefit developing countries.