Aim: This study aims to describe the characteristics of the red cell concentrates (RCCs) produced by whole blood settling in Burkina Faso.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the blood centers of Ouagadougou and Koudougou between 12th February and 15th March 2015. 427 blood units selected at Koudougou and divided into three groups were processed by settling method over three durations (methods I = 36–48 h, II = 48–72 h and III = 72–96 h). Other 139 units selected at Ouagadougou were processed by centrifugation (method IV). The RCCs units' characteristics were described by the mean of their hematocrit, volume, hemoglobin level and content. The residual plasma level, the hematocrit yield and the hematocrit concentration ability (ability of method to raise hematocrit in comparison with whole blood) have been used to assess methods efficacy.
Results: The volume and hemoglobin content of overall units met standard requirements. 2.1%, 14.2% and 27.7% of units respectively issued from methods I, II, III had hematocrit over 50%. The average volume (mL) was 372.88, 357.91, 350.30 and 332.26 respectively for method I to IV (p

Blood sedimentation, Centrifugation