Buffy Coat Component Production Method
A project update from Susan Shimla, Buffy Coat Project Manager, January 2009:
The Buffy Coat production method has been successfully implemented at eleven sites, Edmonton, British Columbia & Yukon, Central Ontario, Hamilton, Calgary, Halifax, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Ottawa, London and Winnipeg.
The last scheduled implementation occurred on November 28, 2008. All CBS sites, with the exception of Saskatchewan have converted to the new production method.
In the short term Saskatchewan will continue to produce an ongoing national supply of platelets made by the Platelet Rich Plasma method to provide a low volume platelet dose. A longer term solution, the splitting of apheresis platelets, will be investigated but is not expected to be implemented prior to March 2010.
The Buffy Coat project will officially end just prior to the end of the fiscal year with the transition of functions back into operations.
Canadian Blood Services is introducing a new method to produce platelets from whole blood 
collections called the Buffy Coat Component Production method. This method offers significant benefits for hospitals: a pooled, bacterially tested, ready-to-transfuse platelet concentrated with a higher yield of platelets, greater availability and a five-day shelf life.
This page summarizes the resources available on TransfusionMedicine.ca that will help you better understand this new production method. We welcome your questions and resource suggestions; please use the feedback button.
For a brief summary of changes and components, visit:
- Changes Affecting Hospitals and Patients Following the Implementation of Buffy Coat Production Method
- Amendments 1 and 2 from the 2005 Circular of Information, which lists additional information for red blood cell products manufactured by the Buffy Coat Production method.
For more general information about component preparation, visit our Component Preparation section, which has been updated to include the new products available and their storage conditions:
- Component Preparation
- Preparation of Red Blood Cells
- Preparation of Plasma Products
- Preparation of Platelets
- Preparation of Cryoprecipitate and Cryosupernatant Plasma
- Storage of Blood Components
Training Resources for Nurses and Paramedicals
For nurses and other paramedical personnel in Canadian Hospitals where the method is being introduced, we offer the following training resources:
- Blood Bag Spiking Procedures. A six-minute video showing the spiking technique for the new blood and blood product bags used in buffy coat production. Produced and hosted by the B.C. Blood Coordinating Office.
- Spiking Procedure for Use with Baxter and Macopharma Blood Bags. A presentation by Susan Shimla, Project Director, that shows the spiking technique for specific vendor blood infusion administration sets. December 2005.
- Procedure for Spiking New Buffy Coat Blood Bags. A letter sized poster with troubleshooting tips. Suitable for printing. Updated Dec 2007.
- Introducing ...... Buffy Coat Production Method. Buffy Coat Syllabus Poster. Includes benefits. August 2006.
- Buffy Coat Coming Soon to Newfoundland and Labrador Hospitals An overview article, "Do the Twist," suitable for local hospital or regional publications or newsletters. June 2008.
- Buffy Coat Project: Compatibility of transfusion sets with component bags used by the CBS. A summary of a two part study performed by the CBS designed to assess the compatibility of commonly used transfusion sets with various component bags currently used. January 2006. Important Note: Effective January 2007 all MacoPharma component bags used by CBS are of the modified port design.
- CBS Buffy Coat Blood Bag Evaluation: Technical Report. Results and recommendations from the study by the Provincial Blood Coordinating Office, B.C., investigating the introduction of new blood bags to B.C. hospitals. October 2006. Important Note: Effective january 2007 all MacoPharma component bags used by CBS are of the modified port design.
- Buffy Coat Project: Compatibility of transfer sets with component bags used by the CBS. A summary of a study performed by the CBS to assess the compatibility of commonly used transfer sets with various component bags. February 2007.
- Buffy Coat Readiness Checklist. Is your hospital ready for Buffy Coat? A sample checklist to ensure readiness for Buffy Coat products.