title: Reduction of platelet transfusion- associated sepsis by short-term bacterial culture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is as yet no suitable routine laboratory test for a blood transfusion service to detect bacterial contamination in platelets. This study evaluates the effectiveness and the applicability of short-term bacterial culture for such a purpose.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples from 5-unit platelet pools were inoculated into an aerobic culture bottle, then monitored for 48 h at 35 degrees C in an automated monitoring and detection system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  26,210 whole-blood-derived platelet components were tested, of which 14 (0.053%) platelet units were found to be contaminated. In addition, nine of the associated red cell units and 4 fresh-frozen plasma units grew the same organisms on culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-duration bacterial culture by an automated system is effective and suitable for routine screening in a regional transfusion center.
authors.affiliation: Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, China. hwliu@ha.org.hk
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D006801:Humans; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors