New polyolefin foil for 5-day storage of platelet concentrates (PC) collected by apheresis

In a paired study 12 platelet concentrates (PC) of Fresenius AS-104 cell separator were stored in new polyolefin bags of Fresenius (LE2) and Fenwal PL-732 bags. On day 0 and after 3 and 5 days of storage pH, pO2, pCO2, cell counts, platelet morphology and aggregability, plasma glucose, lactate, LDH and beta TG were determined. The overall changes fell within the expected range. No relevant differences between the two bags could be detected, although a few parameters (pH, pCO2) are slightly but statistically/significantly different. It can be concluded that the new polyolefin bag is well suited for 5-day storage of PC's from the AS-104.