Storage of buffy-coat-derived platelets in additive solutions: in vitro effects on platelets stored in reformulated...

Platelet additive solutions (PAS) have been shown to be suitable for extended platelet (PLT) storage. Depending on the PAS formulation, the percentage of plasma carry-over contributes to success. Improving PLT quality by optimizing the composition of PAS may allow a reduction to be made in the amount of plasma carried over to the final unit. Reducing the proportion of plasma carried over would probably decrease transfusion of unwanted antibodies and make greater amounts of plasma available for other needs.

Platelets from eight pools of 25 buffy coats were aliquoted and prepared for storage in plasma and different PAS units: InterSol and three alternate PAS named PSM1, PSM2 and PSM3. All PAS units were supplied with a 20% plasma carry-over and stored at room temperature with agitation for 9 days with in vitro testing for metabolic, cellular and activation parameters. Results During storage, PLTs stored in InterSol displayed significantly lower glucose concentration (P < 0.01), lower adenosine triphosphate levels (P < 0.01), a higher mean PLT volume (P < 0.01), a lower response to hypotonic shock response activity (P < 0.01) and a higher CD62P expression (P < 0.01) when compared with PLTs stored in plasma and PSM1-3 solutions. pH was maintained at > 6.8 (day 9) and swirling remained at the highest level (score = 2) for all units throughout storage.

Our results suggest that PLTs stored in PAS with addition of magnesium, potassium and glucose (PSM2 and PSM3) and 20% plasma carry-over maintained metabolic and cellular characteristics, equivalent to PLTs stored in 100% plasma during 9 days of storage. Our results also suggest that presence of potassium in addition to magnesium or alternatively the concentration of phosphate as well as the supply of additional glucose to normal plasma levels improve in vitro data of PLTs stored in PAS.