Platelet counts in stored donor blood

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Hematology

Background:

• Platelet counts are critical for blood transfusion efficacy.
• Understanding platelet retention during storage and filtration is essential for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate platelet counts in stored whole blood before and after filtration.
• To determine the clinical significance of platelet numbers in stored whole blood.

Main Methods:

• Platelet counts were performed on one- and three-day-old whole blood units.
• Blood samples were analyzed before and after passing through a 170-micron filter.
• Whole blood was anticoagulated with citrate/phosphate/dextrose (CPD) and stored under Australian blood bank conditions.

Main Results:

• One-day-old blood had a mean platelet count of 237,000/microliter.
• Three-day-old blood showed lower mean platelet counts (183,000/microliter) but remained within normal ranges.
• Approximately 90% of platelets passed through the filter in both one- and three-day-old blood.

Conclusions:

• Stored whole blood (CPD) retains clinically significant platelet numbers for at least three days.
• Further investigation is required to assess platelet activity and function during this storage period.