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Published on: December 7, 2012
In vitro evaluation of prestorage pooled leukoreduced whole blood-derived platelets stored for up to 7 days
N M Heddle1, R L Barty, C S Sigouin
1Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Canadian Blood Services, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. heddlen@mcmaster.ca
Insights
Storing whole blood-derived platelets (PLTs) in pools for 7 days maintains quality comparable to individually stored PLTs. This pooling strategy offers operational efficiencies and improved safety for platelet transfusions.
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Hematology
- Blood Banking
Background:
- Pooling whole blood-derived platelets (PLTs) for 7-day storage offers operational efficiencies and facilitates bacterial testing and pathogen inactivation.
- Assessing the in vitro quality of pre-storage pooled PLTs is crucial for transfusion safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vitro quality of pre-storage pooled platelets stored for up to 7 days.
- To compare the quality of pooled platelets with individually stored control platelets.
Main Methods:
- Leukoreduced platelets were pooled (5 units/pool) and stored for 5 or 7 days.
- Biochemical markers, activation markers, morphology, and shape change were assessed at various time points.
- Control platelets were stored individually for comparison.
Main Results:
- Mean platelet counts were similar between pooled and control groups.
- Pre-storage pooled platelets showed significant differences in pH, pO2, lactate, pCO2, and hypotonic shock compared to controls.
- The observed differences in quality markers were not expected to impact transfusion outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Pre-storage pooling of platelets for up to 7 days appears feasible for maintaining acceptable in vitro quality.
- Further clinical studies are necessary to confirm that pooled platelet efficacy is not inferior to individually stored platelets.
Background:
Advantages to storing whole blood-derived platelets (PLTs) as a pool for 7 days would include operational efficiencies and facilitation of bacterial testing and pathogen inactivation. The in vitro quality of pre-storage pooled PLTs stored for up to 7 days was assessed.
Study Design And Methods:
Leukoreduced PLTs were pooled before storage (5 units/pool) and stored for either 5 or 7 days. Samples were collected at the time of pooling and either on Day 5 (n=16-29) or on Day 7 (n=4-30) and tested for biochemical and activation markers and morphology and/or shape change. Control PLTs were stored individually for 5 or 7 days and then tested as indicated above.
Results:
The mean PLT counts (x10(9)/L) were similar: control PLTs, 1344 (464 SD); and prestorage pooled PLTs, 1327 (220 SD; p=0.93). On Day 5, the pH value was significantly lower (p
Conclusion:
These results suggest that prestorage pooled PLTs can be stored for up to 7 days; however, studies are needed to ensure that the clinical benefit of PLTs stored as a pool is not inferior to those stored individually.
