Quality of irradiated and non-irradiated plateletpheresis concentrates stored in platelet additive solution

Platelet additive solutions (PAS) allow to maintain platelet storage properties in platelet concentrates (PCs). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in-vitro quality of irradiated and non-irradiated PCs, suspended in PAS, over a storage period of 6 days.

Plateletpheresis donors fulfilling current eligibility criteria underwent plateletpheresis with the MCS+ blood cell separator. The PAS SSP+ was used to store platelets (PLT) for up to 6 days. Aliquots were drawn from the PCs after collection, at day 4, 5 and 6 of storage. A battery of tests was performed to analyse the quality of the PCs: PLT count, mean PLT volume (MPV), PLT activation marker CD 62, swirl, RBC and WBC contamination, pH, citrate, glucose, lactate and lactate dehydrogenase.

An average of 2.53 ± 0.21 × 10¹¹ PLT were collected in a product volume of 231 ± 5 mL in irradiated and 233 ± 6 mL in non-irradiated PCs, respectively. RBC- and WBC-contamination were within the allowed ranges. Δ CD62 steadily decreased in irradiated and non-irradiated PCs while the pH was well maintained over storage time. Glucose and lactate levels of irradiated and non-irradiated PCs showed characteristic pattern of PC storage within acceptable ranges.

Our data demonstrate that parameters of PC quality were well maintained over a storage period of 6 days using PAS. Irradiation had no impact on the quality of PCs. The product quality of irradiated and non-irradiated PCs met national and European guidelines.