title: Platelet aggregation and quality control of platelet concentrates produced in the Amazon Blood Bank.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study of platelet aggregation is essential to assess in vitro platelet function by different platelet activation pathways.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess aggregation and biochemical parameters of random platelet concentrates produced at the Fundação HEMOAM using the quality control tests defined by law.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole blood samples from 80 donors and the respective platelet concentrate units were tested. Platelet concentrates were tested (platelet count, aggregation and pH) on days 1, 3 and 5 of storage. Additionally a leukocyte count was done only on day 1 and microbiological tests on day 5 of storage. Collagen and adenosine diphosphate were used as inducing agonists for platelet aggregation testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Donor whole blood had normal aggregation (aggregation with adenosine diphosphate = 67% and with collagen = 78%). The median aggregation in platelet concentrates with adenosine diphosphate was low throughout storage (18% on day 1, 7% on day 3 and 6% on day 5) and the median aggregation with collagen was normal only on day 1 and low thereafter (54.4% on day 1, 20.5% on day 3 and 9% on day 5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the results were within the norms required by law, platelet concentrates had low aggregation rates. We suggest the inclusion of a functional assessment test for the quality control of platelet concentrates for a more effective response to platelet replacement therapy.
authors.affiliation: Blood Cycle Department, Laboratório de Fracionamento, Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria José Dantas
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Coêlho
authors.forename: Taysa de Castro
authors.initials: Tde C
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Felicien Gonçalves
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.forename: Kátia Luz Torres
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Kleber Sandro Brasil
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Viviana Maria Araújo
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Francimary de Oliveira
authors.initials: Fde O
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
keywords: Blood banks; Blood component transfusion; Collagen; Hemostasis; Platelet aggregation; Quality control