title: A platelet quality assessment scheme for comparing the performance of quality monitoring laboratories in the UK National Blood Service.
abstract: This exercise focused on performance of NBS quality monitoring establishments with respect to enumeration of low leucocyte and other quality indexes of platelet concentration. Paired identical leucodepleted platelet samples, spiked with WBC (20 cells/microl) in 'vacuette' or 'pouch' were assessed by participants (n = 20) on days 1, 2 and 5. For low WBC counting, all laboratories gave estimates within acceptable range (+/-25%) and good agreement between storage and assay methods was observed on days 1 and 2. Day 5 results showed greater variability. Under improved performance criteria (+/-15%), only one laboratory under-estimated at days 1 and 2. Similarly, other parameters demonstrated good agreement between storage methods on days 1 and 2. At day 5, mean results were often significantly different to previous days. Improved performance target (+/-15%) will allow identification of non-conformers.
authors.affiliation: National Blood Service-London and South East Zone, Colindale, UK. Jseghatchian@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jerard
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seghatchian
authors.forename: Pranee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krailadsiri
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigsby
authors.forename: Antoaneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bukasa
authors.forename: Saber
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bashir
mesh_terms: D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards*; D001792:Blood Platelets; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000592:standards; D007962:Leukocytes; D009313:National Health Programs; D015588:Observer Variation; D010983:Plateletpheresis / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom