Implementation of a proficiency testing programme for bacterial screening in platelet preparations in Canada.
OBJECTIVE
Bacterial screening in apheresis platelet preparations was implemented in March of 2004 by Canadian Blood Services (CBS) using the BacT/ALERT system. The aim of this study was to develop, validate and implement an in-house proficiency testing programme to evaluate CBS performance of bacterial screening in platelet preparations.


METHODS
During development of the proficiency testing programme, apheresis platelet preparations were spiked with 10(1) and 10(2) colony forming units per ml of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The preparations were stored at 2-8 degrees C prior to culture bottle inoculation with 4 or 6 ml on Days 7-10 (estimated time from panel preparation to testing at CBS centres). Upon implementation, a combination of four proficiency panel members, including positives and negatives, were distributed to each of the centres that participated in the programme. A survey was conducted with 43 America's Blood Centers to assess whether they screen for bacterial testing in platelet preparations and whether they have implemented a proficiency testing programme.


RESULTS
The development of the proficiency testing programme showed that S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa produced positive results at both concentrations and volumes on Days 7-10 poststorage. Streptococcus pneumoniae did not grow consistently and therefore was not selected for implementation of the programme. Two proficiency testing panel sets have been issued (July 2006 and February 2007) with 14 out of 15 (93%) and 14 out of 14 (100%) of the participant centres meeting the expected results for bacterial screening, respectively. The majority (72%) of the America's Blood Centers that screen for bacterial contamination have not implemented a proficiency testing programme and 94.4% of these centres are interested in developing such a programme.


CONCLUSIONS
Canadian Blood Services has successfully implemented a proficiency testing programme for bacterial screening in platelet preparations, which will contribute to improving the safety of the platelet supply in Canada.
Research & Development, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Mastronardi
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Martincic
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Ramírez-Arcos
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000382:microbiology*; D002170:Canada; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010983:Plateletpheresis / Q000592:standards*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D011786:Quality Control; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods