The Play of Citrate Infusion with Calcium in Plateletpheresis Donors

Citrate is the anticoagulant of choice for plateletpheresis. Citrate toxicity is common during plateletpheresis as citrate chelates calcium and causes hypocalcemia in donors. We have conducted this study to analyze the effects of routine citrate infusion during plateletpheresis on laboratory and clinical parameters. We also compared the dose of citrate delivered to donors during plateletpheresis using two different cell separators as Haemonetics MCS + and Trima Accel. The study was conducted on 50 plateletpheresis donors who were eligible for donation. Donor demographics and baseline parameters were recorded. Pre, mid and post-procedure blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analysis. We found a significant decrease in baseline iCa (1.23 ± 0.07 mmol/L) from start to mid-procedure (1.19 ± 0.006 mmol/L) which recovered at 30 min post procedure (1.2 ± 0.01 mmol/L). The incidence of citrate toxicity was 10%. In donors with citrate toxicity, the post-procedure recovery of iCa was not seen and there was a further decrease in iCa levels. We also found a significant fall in Hb and platelet count post plateletpheresis. We observed that lower PLT counts (< 200 × 10³/µL) necessitated higher blood volume processing and therefore a higher anticoagulant (citrate) dose. The Trima Accel cell separator reached platelet target yield faster but with a higher citrate dose as compared to Hemonetics MCS + . Ionized calcium decreases significantly during plateletpheresis but recovers soon after the completion of the procedure. Serious adverse events were not observed during plateletpheresis. The mild citrate toxicity which occurred was easily managed by slowing the procedure and administering oral calcium to donors. Trima Accel and Hemonetics MCS + both collected platelets efficiently, with minimal donor discomfort.