The influence of heparinized polymers on the retention of platelets aggregability during storage

The change in aggregability of the platelets stored in the storage tube fabricated from a newly developed heparinized hydrophilic polymer (H-RSD) has been studied in comparison with plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) which is widely used for blood bags. Rabbit blood was directly withdrawn into the storage tube containing an anticoagulant from the carotid. Then the tube was mechanically sealed with screw cocks and centrifugated to prepare platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the tube and again mechanically clamped to separate the PRP from the residual precipitate. The PRP was stored in situ in the storage tube at room temperature under agitation. During storage, the change in the aggregability of the PRP induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was studied and the morphological change in the platelets adhered onto the inner surface of the storage tube was observed by scanning electron microscopy. In the H-RSD tube, the aggregability was maintained during two-day storage, while in the PVC tube, the aggregability was completely lost after one-day storage. The scanning electron microscopic studies demonstrated that the reduction in the aggregability of the stored platelets is closely correlated with the morphological deformation of the platelets adhered onto the surface of the storage tube.