Factors influencing platelet isolation: a prospective multicenter study from Western China

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Oncology
• Hematology

Background:

• Tumor-educated platelets (TEPs) show potential for cancer liquid biopsy.
• Platelet isolation is a critical yet often overlooked step in TEPs research.
• Standardizing platelet isolation protocols is necessary to improve TEPs-based diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze key factors influencing platelet isolation from peripheral blood.
• To establish optimal conditions for maximizing platelet recovery rate (PRR) in TEPs research.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for consistent and reliable platelet isolation.

Main Methods:

• A prospective multicenter study involving 208 healthy Han Chinese adults.
• Investigated the impact of storage temperature (room vs. cold) and time on PRR.
• Assessed the influence of different equipment, specifically centrifuge models, across four hospitals.

Main Results:

• Platelet recovery rate (PRR) was slightly higher at room temperature (23°C±2°C) compared to cold (4°C±2°C).
• PRR significantly decreased with increased storage time; samples processed within 2 hours showed higher PRR (p < .05).
• Equipment variations, particularly centrifuge models, affected PRR across different centers.

Conclusions:

• Platelet isolation for TEPs research should ideally occur within two hours of blood draw.
• Maintaining samples at room temperature until isolation is recommended for optimal PRR.
• Standardizing centrifuge equipment across research centers is essential for reproducible TEPs-based liquid biopsy studies.