Influence of Regular Plateletpheresis Donations on Immature Platelet Fraction and Platelet Count

Plateletpharesis donation could be done more frequently than whole blood donation. This study is designed to explore the correlation between frequency, inter-donation intervals and effects of long-term plateletpheresis donation with the platelet count and immature platelet fraction (IPF). Outcomes from this study will strengthen the safety data for plateletpheresis donation. A total of 244 donors were studied. They were grouped into plateletpheresis (n=184) or whole blood donors (n=60). Participants blood samples were collected and analysed for full blood count and IPF by Sysmex XE-5000. Baseline platelet counts were retrieved from records before the first donation and compared to the most recent pre-donation counts for all the plateletpheresis donors. Finally, the influence of frequency, interval and total duration of plateletpheresis donation on the platelet count and IPF were assessed. Statistically significant reduction of platelet count (273 x 109/L, 172-443) were observed when compared with the baseline pre-donation count (291 x 109/L, 164-478) for plateletpheresis donors. However, this fall is not of clinical significance ad platelet counts were still within normal ranges. Similar observation was made regardless of inter-donation interval and total duration of donation. IPF for the plateletpheresis donors (1.5%, 0.5-7.5) were also comparable with the whole blood donors (1.5%, 0.6-4.8; p=0.848). Frequent plateletpheresis donation with at least 14 days inter-donation intervals and up to 24 donations a year does not cause thrombocytopenia or increase in the IPF. This knowledge is hoped to encourage more people to become donors thus helping blood transfusion services to meet the increasing demand for plateletpheresis product.