Seven-day storage of apheresis platelets: report of an in vitro study

The objective of this study was to determine the allowable platelet content limits for apheresis platelets stored for 7 days in a platelet storage bag (COBE ELP, Gambro BCT).

Apheresis platelets under controlled concentration and volume per bag were stored in plasma up to 8 days at 22 degrees C with horizontal agitation. Routinely evaluated in vitro platelet parameters were followed. Oxygen consumption was directly measured with a Clark-type electrode. All components were cultured in aerobic medium on Day 7.

Twenty-four components were evaluated in storage configurations (median [range], 340 [110-402] mL, 1.32 [0.99-2.45] x 10(6) platelets/microL, and 4.8 [1.4-5.9] x 10(11) platelets/bag). No bacterial contamination was detected. One component had a pH value at 22 degrees C of below 6.0 before Day 5 with attendant loss of all other in vitro function measures. The pH value at 22 degrees C was maintained above 6.2 for the remaining 23 components. A pH value of greater than 7.4 was observed at some point in storage for 13 of 23 units, although platelet function or activation was not adversely affected. Aerobic metabolic function was maintained over 7 days with O2 consumption of 321 micromol per hour per 10(12) platelets on Day 7.

Although a continuing decline of platelet in vitro characteristics can be observed for storage beyond 5 days, apheresis platelets in plasma stored 100 to 400 mL per bag, 1.0 x 10(6) to 2.5 x 10(6) platelets per microL, and a maximum of 5.1 x 10(11) platelets per bag maintained in vitro platelet characteristics over 7 days of storage.