Multiple pH measurement during storage may detect bacterially contaminated platelet concentrates

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Medical Devices
• Quality Control

Background:

• Stored platelet concentrates (PCs) are susceptible to pH changes from bacterial contamination or metabolism.
• Current pH measurement for quality control is limited and can risk contamination.
• A noninvasive method for sequential pH monitoring was developed to address these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure pH profiles of bacterially contaminated PCs over 7 days.
• To evaluate the efficacy of a noninvasive pH sensor for early detection of contamination.
• To assess the impact of various bacterial strains and yeast on PC pH.

Main Methods:

• Small-volume PC storage bags with integrated pH sensors were utilized.
• In vitro variables were tested using PC aliquots.
• PCs were inoculated with 19 bacterial strains and one yeast to simulate contamination.

Main Results:

• Noninvasive pH monitoring detected most bacterial strains within 24 to 72 hours.
• Bacterial concentrations at detection ranged from 1x10^3 to 1x10^8 CFU/mL.
• Multiple pH readings were crucial, as single readings could yield false negatives due to pH rebound.

Conclusions:

• The noninvasive pH sensor effectively detected most bacterial contaminants within 3 days.
• This method eliminates the risk of sampling errors associated with traditional methods.
• Early detection of contamination enhances the safety and quality of stored platelet products.