Effect of centrifugation on the storage properties of platelets

Some of the recommended centrifugation methods for the preparation of platelet concentrates may cause accelerated deterioration of platelets stored in second-generation containers. The deterioration is characterized by increasing pH, pO2 and decreasing pCO2, a high discharge of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and increasing amounts of small particles which have recently been shown to have platelet factor 3 activity [Solberg, C.; Osterud, B.; Little, C.: Thrombosis Res. 48: 559-565, 1987]. A short first centrifugation (3,270 g, 2 min 15 s) yielded platelets with better storage properties than platelet-rich plasma prepared with longer centrifugation times (2,200 g, 4 min 30 s and 1,100 g, 6 min). By using multivariate data analysis the effect of different platelet concentrations and metabolic parameters can be used to predict the discharge of LDH or the change in morphology.