(P-BC-18) Comparison of Production Time and Cost for Buffy Coat and Apheresis Platelets

Background/Case Studies: The Karolinska University Hospital blood center in Sweden receives about 65,000 whole blood units per year. Approximately 20% of its platelet units are collected via apheresis and 80% are produced via the buffy coat method derived from the whole blood collections. Platelets produced via both methods are pathogen reduced for increased patient safety. Apheresis collections on average output 1.98 platelet units. Buffy coats are pooled and processed yielding on average 1.99 platelet units. Given our experience with both methods, we can compare the costs and production time required.

Study

Design/Methods: A retrospective review of 2024 collection and production data was performed. The average cost of production of each unit of apheresis and buffy coat platelets was calculated. Cost analysis for buffy coat units factored in the incremental cost of the whole blood collection set type used that is compatible with buffy coat production versus using collection sets that would not be compatible. The analysis also included the labor costs of pooling and processing buffy coats to get to the final platelet product. Cost analysis for apheresis included the incremental staff time at the donation centers and associated labor rates as well as material costs for collections.

Collection time and costs for buffy coat production were not included in the analysis, since buffy coats are a byproduct of whole blood collections already needed for RBCs and plasma production.

Results/Findings: The total cost of producing a buffy coat platelet was calculated to be 40% less than the cost of producing an apheresis platelet.

Material costs for producing a platelet via the buffy coat method were 17% less than the costs for an apheresis platelet, whereas the personnel costs were 71% less.

An apheresis platelet required 122 minutes of production time, divided into 107 minutes at the donation site and 15 minutes of processing time. Production of buffy coat platelets took 32 min of processing time.

The analysis was extended to the scenario of a higher split rates from an apheresis donation. Hypothetically, even if an apheresis collection yielded on average of up to three transfusable doses, the cost for buffy coat units would be less, but the difference would decrease to 23%.

Conclusions: The total cost of buffy coat platelets is less than apheresis platelets at our institution. Karolinska maintains apheresis production to have HLA-typed platelets to meet the need for patients requiring matched platelets. Buffy coat production leverages the available supply from whole blood collections and represents a better economic option for platelet production.