ADJUSTING PH IN A METHOD OF SEPARATING WHOLE BLOOD

Abstract

This invention is directed to a method of collecting and separating whole blood into components. The method includes the steps of adding an anticoagulant having an acidic pH to a bag for collecting and/or separating whole blood, collecting whole blood in the bag, loading the bag containing anticoagulated whole blood on a rotor, spinning the bag on the rotor to separate the whole blood into at least one component; and squeezing the bag on the rotor to push the component from the separation bag into at least one satellite bag.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a set of separation and collection bags designed for cooperating with an automated whole blood separation apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view, partly in cross-section, of a whole blood separation apparatus which may be used with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view, partly in cross-section, of a whole blood separation apparatus which may be used with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another set of separation and collection bags designed for cooperating with another automated whole blood separation apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view, partly in cross-section, of a whole blood separation apparatus which may be used with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the rotor of the separation apparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 in schematic view, in cross-section along a radial plane, of a separation cell of the separation apparatus of FIGS. 5-7.

Claims

1. A method of collecting and separating whole blood into at least one component comprising the steps of: adding an anticoagulant having an acidic pH to a bag for collecting and/or separating whole blood;collecting whole blood in the bag;loading the bag containing anticoagulated whole blood on a rotor;spinning the bag on the rotor to separate the whole blood into at least one component; andsqueezing the bag on the rotor to transfer the at least one component from the separation bag into a satellite bag.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adding an anticoagulant further comprises adding ACDA.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adding an anticoagulant further comprises adding CPD acidified with citric acid.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adding an anticoagulant further comprises adding CPD acidified with carbon dioxide.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the anticoagulated whole blood has a mean pH of between 6.7 and 7.0.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the anticoagulated whole blood has a mean pH of around 6.8.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of separating the whole blood into at least one component further comprises separating a red blood cell component.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the separating step further comprises leukoreducing the separated red blood cell component.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the separating step further comprises separating the whole blood on the same day the blood was collected.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the separating step further comprises separating the whole blood on the day after the blood was collected.

11. A method of separating red blood cells from previously collected and stored whole blood comprising the steps of: collecting whole blood in CPD anticoagulant;storing the anticoagulated whole blood overnight;loading the anticoagulated whole blood on a rotor;spinning the rotor to separate the whole blood into at least a red blood cell component;squeezing the blood on the rotor to transfer at least the red blood cell component into a satellite bag; andincreasing the pH of the separated red blood cell component in the satellite bag.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of leukoreducing the red blood cell component having increased pH.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of increasing the pH of the separated red blood cell component further comprises adding a phosphate buffer.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of increasing the pH of the separated red blood cell component further comprises adding a red blood cell storage solution that has an increased pH.

15. A method for separating whole blood into components comprising the steps of: collecting whole blood into a bag containing an anticoagulant having an acidic pH;loading the bag containing the anticoagulant and whole blood onto a rotor;spinning the rotor to separate the whole blood into a plasma component, a platelet component and a red blood cell component;squeezing the bag on the rotor to transfer the plasma component into a first satellite bag;squeezing the bag on the rotor to transfer the platelet component into a second satellite bag; andsqueezing the bag on the rotor to transfer the red blood cell component into a third satellite bag.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of increasing the pH of the red blood cell component.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of increasing the pH of the red blood cell component further comprises adding a red blood cell storage solution which has an increased pH to increase the pH of the red blood cells.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising a step of flowing the red blood cell component through a leukoreduction filter.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising a step of storing the collected whole blood and anticoagulant overnight before the separating step.

20. A pre-connected bag and solution set comprising: a collection bag containing anticoagulant solution having an acidic pH;a separation bag pre-connected via transfer tubing to the collection bag; andat least one satellite bag pre-connected via transfer tubing to the separation bag.

21. The pre-connected bag and collection set of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of satellite bags pre-connected to the separation bag via transfer tubings.

22. A pre-connected bag and solution set comprising: a separating bag containing anticoagulant solution having an acidic pH; andat least one satellite bag pre-connected via tubing to the separating bag.

23. The pre-connected bag and separation set of claim 22 further comprising a plurality of satellite bags preconnected via tubings to the separating bag.