Table 2.
Operational contrasts between centrifuge and membrane apheresis procedures
| Characteristic | Centrifuge Therapeutic Plasma Exchange | Membrane Therapeutic Plasma Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Centrifugal force | Capillary membrane filter |
| Blood flow (ml/min) | 10–150 | 150 |
| Plasma extraction (%) | 80 | 30 |
| Plasma removal (ml/min) | Variable | 30 |
| Anticoagulation | Citrate | Heparin |
| Separation | Specific gravity | Size |
| Blood volume in circuit (ml) | Approximately 180 | 125 |
| Molecular weight cutoff (D) | N/A | 3 million |
| Sterilization | γ Irradiation or ethylene oxide | Ethylene oxide |
| Fluid replacement | Albumin, fresh frozen plasma | Albumin, fresh frozen plasma |
N/A, not applicable.