Effect of agitation on the quality of platelet concentrates.
Platelet concentrates (PCs) were stored for 4 days at 22 degrees C in 400 ml second-generation (PL1240) platelet packs with either constant agitation, manual mixing once every 24 h or without agitation at any time. After 4 days storage, in vivo recovery, survival and biodistribution were determined following indium-111 labelling of platelets and infusion into autologous volunteers. In vitro assays of platelet function and biochemistry were likewise carried out after 4 days storage. The PCs stored without agitation had significantly lower in vivo recoveries, pH and aggregation responses to ionophore A23187 and a combination of collagen and epinephrine and significantly higher beta-thromboglobulin and indium-111 release than the agitated PCs. The manually mixed PCs were not significantly different from the constantly agitated PCs. PCs mixed simply once every 24 h remained viable with active oxidative phosphorylation and a pH above 6.74 in all but 1 case indicating that PCs stored at 22 degrees C for up to 4 days with only intermittent mixing are satisfactory for transfusion. A change from constant agitation would reduce capital costs in mixing equipment and simplify the transport of PCs from the transfusion centre to small hospital blood banks.
Mitchell
S G
SG
West Midlands Regional Blood Transfusion Centre, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Hawker
R J
RJ
Turner
V S
VS
Hesslewood
S R
SR
Harding
L K
LK
D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards*; D001792:Blood Platelets; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011786:Quality Control; D006113:United Kingdom; D014732:Vibration