title: Survey of methods used to detect bacterial contamination of platelet products in the United States in 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Testing of platelets (PLTs) for bacterial contamination is required by the AABB Standards but is not fully standardized. On January 31, 2011, a new AABB Standard, 5.1.5.1.1, specified that bacterial detection methods for PLT components shall use assays either approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or validated to provide sensitivity equivalent to these FDA-approved methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Internet-based survey of AABB member institutions was conducted from May to June 2012, to document current practices used in 2011 for bacterial detection in different PLT products and to assess the impact of the new standard.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1053 AABB member institutions surveyed, 40 of 99 blood centers (40.4%) and 184 of 954 hospital blood banks or transfusion services (19.3%) responded. Sixty-four respondents manufactured PLTs. Apheresis PLTs (APs) were predominantly screened with the BacT/ALERT system (89.5%); the majority (95.2%) were cultured with at least 8 mL of product. There was substantial variation in the minimum incubation time of cultures before release of PLTs (range, 0 to >24 hr). Recalls of released AP for possible bacterial contamination were largely successful (67.3%); successful interdiction before transfusion was associated with incubation for more than 12 hours before release (p < 0.01). After Standard 5.1.5.1.1 took effect, there was a decrease in production of whole blood-derived PLT concentrates (WBPCs). Point-of-issue ("rapid") immunoassays were used to screen a substantial proportion of WBPC PLTs, but were rarely used as secondary tests for previously cultured APs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey identified variability in culture methods and release times with AP, while use of WBPC decreased after AABB Standard 5.1.5.1.1 became effective.
authors: Laboratory Corporation of America, Burlington, North Carolina; Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. mark.brecher@labcorp.com
authors: Mark E
authors: ME
authors: Brecher
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Jacobs
authors: Louis M
authors: LM
authors: Katz
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Jacobson
authors: Jacqlyn
authors: J
authors: Riposo
authors: Allene
authors: A
authors: Carr-Greer
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Kleinman
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000382:microbiology*; D058731:Blood Safety / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010983:Plateletpheresis; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods*