Neutrophil transfusion: effect of storage and of collection method of neutrophil blood kinetics

The kinetics in blood of autologous neutrophils collected by phlebotomy, filtration leukapheresis (FL), or intermittent-flow centrifugation (IFC), labeled with 32P-diisopropylfluorophosphate, and stored at 4 degrees C for up to 2 days were measured in 41 normal subjects. Mean initial recovery for unstored IFC cells was 34.0%, compared to 7.9% for unstored FL cells. Blood half-lives were 4.1 and 2.7 hr for unstored IFC and FL cells, respectively. With neutrophils collected by phlebotomy and stored in whole blood for 1–2 days, posttransfusion recoveries and blood half-times were significantly decreased. Storage of both IFC and FL preparations resulted in only moderate kinetic abnormalities in comparison to the unstored cells. These studies indicate that the ability of unstored IFC cells to circulate is basically normal, whereas that of unstored FL cells is significantly impaired. The data further suggest that these neutrophil concentrates might be stored for 1–2 days prior to transfusion.