From the Guidelines
The buffy coat is a blood component that contains most of the white blood cells and platelets, and is useful for a variety of clinical applications, including genomic/genetic analysis, diagnostic purposes, and research. This component represents approximately 1% of the total blood volume but contains nearly all the white blood cells and platelets from the sample 1. The buffy coat is isolated from whole blood by centrifugation, which separates the blood into different layers based on density, with red blood cells settling at the bottom, plasma rising to the top, and the buffy coat forming the visible intermediate layer.
Key Characteristics of Buffy Coat
- Contains primarily white blood cells (leukocytes) and platelets
- Represents approximately 1% of the total blood volume
- Contains nearly all the white blood cells and platelets from the sample
- Useful for diagnostic purposes, including white blood cell counts, detection of blood parasites, and identification of certain infections
- Valuable in research and transfusion medicine, where it can be used to prepare leukocyte-reduced blood products
Clinical Applications of Buffy Coat
- Genomic/genetic analysis
- Diagnostic purposes
- Research
- Transfusion medicine
- Preparation of leukocyte-reduced blood products
The separation of buffy coat from whole blood is a crucial step in various clinical and research applications, and the use of buffy coat has been recommended in several guidelines, including those for the use of blood components and their alternatives 1. The buffy coat can be further enriched using a hypotonic solution to lyse residual red blood cells, which is essential for high-quality DNA analysis 1. Overall, the buffy coat is a valuable blood component that plays a critical role in various clinical and research applications.
From the Research
Definition and Composition of Buffy Coat
- The buffy coat is a blood component that is obtained from the fraction of an anticoagulated blood sample after it has been centrifuged 2.
- It is mainly composed of white blood cells and platelets [(2,3)].
- The buffy coat can be used to prepare platelet concentrates, which are used for transfusions [(2,3,4,5,6)].
Preparation and Processing of Buffy Coat
- The buffy coat can be prepared using different methods, including manual and automated pooling of buffy coats [(2,4,5)].
- The OrbiSac and TACSI automated systems are examples of methods used to prepare buffy-coat-derived platelet concentrates 4.
- The preparation of buffy coat platelets involves centrifugation of whole blood, followed by separation of the buffy coat fraction and further processing to obtain a platelet concentrate [(2,6)].
Characteristics and Quality of Buffy Coat Platelets
- Buffy coat platelets have been shown to have good quality parameters, including high platelet count, low white blood cell count, and minimal activation markers [(2,4)].
- The quality of buffy coat platelets can be affected by factors such as the preparation method, storage conditions, and the use of platelet additive solutions [(2,4)].
- Buffy coat platelets have been compared to other types of platelet concentrates, such as apheresis platelets, and have been found to have similar or better quality parameters [(2,3)].