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Making cold platelets even cooler: Freezing cold-stored platelets to maximize inventory potential.
Christopher Roan1, Pearl Lei1, Denese C Marks1,2
1Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Transfusion
|November 17, 2025
Summary
Cryopreservation of cold-stored platelets (CSP) effectively extends shelf life without compromising essential platelet functions. This method reduces wastage and improves blood inventory management for transfusion services.
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Hematology
- Biopreservation
Background:
- Extending the shelf life of platelets beyond room temperature storage is crucial for managing blood inventories.
- Cold-stored platelets (CSP) have limited shelf life, necessitating strategies to prevent expiry and wastage.
- Cryopreservation offers a potential method to further extend the viability of CSP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of cryopreservation on the in vitro quality of expiring cold-stored platelets (CSP).
- To determine if freezing CSP adversely affects key platelet characteristics and functions.
Main Methods:
- Apheresis-derived platelets were stored refrigerated (2-6°C) for 14 days as CSP.
- CSP were then cryopreserved (-80°C with DMSO) and thawed.
- In vitro platelet quality was assessed before freezing and after thawing, including recovery, glycoprotein expression, phosphatidylserine exposure, P-selectin expression, extracellular vesicle release, and functional assays.
Main Results:
- Platelet recovery was slightly lower in thawed CSP (70%) compared to standard thawed platelets (77%), but remained above the 50% minimum specification.
- Key platelet glycoproteins (GPIIIa, GPIbα, GPVI) were comparable between groups.
- Thawed CSP showed increased P-selectin exposure but reduced phosphatidylserine externalization and extracellular vesicle release.
- Functional parameters (PAC-1 activation, thromboelastography) were similar post-thaw, irrespective of pre-freeze storage.
Conclusions:
- Cryopreservation is a viable strategy to further extend the shelf life of cold-stored platelets (CSP).
- This approach can significantly reduce platelet wastage and enhance blood inventory management.
- Preserving CSP via cryopreservation maintains critical platelet quality and function for transfusion.
