19326

As a regular platelet-aphaeresis donor, I was alarmed by your article. I would be very curious to know if the standard tubing and centrifuge harness used for aphaeresis contain DEHP. During an aphaeresis session, roughly half the blood of the donor passes through a centrifuge to be relieved of platelets before being returned to the donor. There is a high surface-to-volume ratio in the apparatus, and the blood is in constant motion, which would increase leach rates. Finally, aphaeresis donors can volunteer up to 26 times a year, and many do so for years on end. I would strongly urge those firms that developed alternative plastics to look into marketing them for platelet-aphaeresis apparatus.

Toby Everett
Anchorage, Alaska