title: Extension of platelet shelf life from 4 to 5 days by implementation of a new screening strategy in Germany.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Paul-Ehrlich-Institute analysed all fatalities due to bacterial infections between 1997 and 2007. Thereafter, the platelet shelf life was reduced to a maximum of 4 days after blood donation because the majority of all cases of severe transfusion-transmitted bacterial infections occurred with day 5 platelets. The current study compares the analytical sensitivity and the diagnostic specificity of four rapid bacterial detection procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine transfusion-relevant bacterial strains were spiked in pooled platelets or apheresis platelets at a low concentration (10 CFU/bag). Samples were collected after day 3, day 4 and day 5 and investigated by four rapid bacterial detection methods (modified BacT/ALERT, Bactiflow, FACS method and 16s DNA PCR methods).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven out of nine bacterial strains were adequately detected by BacT/ALERT, Bactiflow and PCR in apheresis platelets and pooled platelets after sample collection at day 3, day 4 and day 5. For three bacterial strains, analytical sensitivity was reduced for the FACS method. Two bacterial strains did not grow under the storage conditions in either pooled or apheresis platelets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A late sample collection on day 3, day 4 or day 5 after blood donation in combination with a rapid bacterial detection method offers a new opportunity to improve blood safety and reduce errors due to sampling., BacT/ALERT, Bactiflow or 16s ID-NAT are feasible for late bacterial screening in platelets may provide data which support the extension of platelet shelf life in Germany to 5 days.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, German Red Cross, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sireis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rüster
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daiss
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hourfar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capalbo
authors.forename: H-U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Janetzko
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goebel
authors.forename: V A J
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Kempf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seifried
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion; D001782:Blood Donors; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000382:microbiology*; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial