Evaluation of the advantages of platelet concentrates stored at 4°C versus 22°C

Platelet (PLT) storage at cold temperatures (4°C) can reduce bacterial contamination and lower the risk of transfusion-related complications. We compared the effects of 22 and 4°C storage conditions for PLTs to further explore the efficiency of hemostasis in acute bleeding and extended PLT shelf life.

Manually prepared PLTs (PLT concentrates in plasma, not PLT additive solution) were stored at 4 and 22°C. The PLT counts, scanning electronic microscope observations, blood gas indices, biochemical indices, PLT aggregative function, and surface CD62P expression were monitored and compared between the groups.

There was no obvious change in PLT counts between Day 21 at 4°C and Day 5 at 22°C. PLTs stored at 4°C for 10 to 14 days were dramatically activated, had rough surfaces, and showed a significant degree of long pseudopodia formation. The pH of the PLTs on Day 5 was lower at 22°C than at 4°C, while the lactate dehydrogenase and lactic acid levels in the former group were significantly higher (p < 0.005). The maximum aggregation rates induced by collagen and arachidonic acid in the PLTs stored at 4°C for 5 days remained higher than 80%, while the rates induced by four inducers in the PLTs stored at 22°C were less than 5%. PLTs stored at 4°C for 10 to 14 days showed higher surface expression of PAC-1 and CD62P.

PLT counts, cellular morphologies, PLT membranes, cytoplasmic structures, aggregation rates, and hemostatic PLT function stored at 4°C for 10 to 14 days were better than those stored at 22°C for 5 days.