Background

Maconnect is the new sterile connection device designed by Macopharma that allows to perform up to 6 connections simultaneously. This device was implemented in our production site and is used for the Buffy-Coat (BC) pooling with an octopus configuration during the preparation platelet concentrates (PCs).

A comparative study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the pooling step using a multiple or simple sterile connection device.

Methods

Time measurements were performed by several operators during the BC pooling step in octopus configuration (pooling of 5 BCs and 1 SSP+ solution) using either a multiple (Maconnect, Macopharma) or a simple (TSCD, Terumo) sterile connection device.

The time-to-prepare between 1 and 6 BC-pool in series was assessed for both devices: the time measurement started when the first 5 BC were taken to be pooled and ended when the group of prepared BC-pools were packed and ready to be centrifuged. A total of 78 BC-pools was prepared with the Maconnect and 69 with the TSCD. In both cases, 9 different operators performed the pooling and time measurement.

Results

The pooling step (time-to-prepare 1 BC-pool) was significantly faster (t-test) with the multiple sterile connection device (7min 21s ± 1min 36s) than with the simple one (8min 53s ± 1min 24s).

Pooling time for 1 BC-pool obtained from the preparation of small series of BC-pools (1 to 2 BC-pools) were also compared to the one obtained from the preparation of larger series of BC-pools (3 to 6 BC-pools): it was increased with both devices for larger series. It can be explained by a small delay between the preparation of each pool. However, the time difference between Maconnect and TSCD was similar for small and large series (1min 48s and 1min 40s, respectively) which suggest no further time saving than the connection time with Maconnect.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Maconnect allows time saving during the BC pooling in Octopus configuration. The introduction of this multiple sterile connection device in the production thus contributes to the optimization of the PC preparation from BC and of the workflow in the routine environment.

Offenlegung Interessenkonflikt:

The co-author Massimo Benzoni is an employee from Maco Pharma.