title: Evaluation of a universal point-of-issue assay for bacterial detection in buffy coat platelet components.
abstract: Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates poses a major post-transfusion infectious risk. This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the BacTx(®) assay (Immunetics Inc.) for bacterial detection in leucocyte-reduced buffy coat platelet pools and for its sensitivity in detecting clinical isolates, including bacteria that form surface-attached aggregates (biofilm positives). Platelet pools were inoculated at bacterial concentrations of 0·8-13 CFU/ml. The BacTx(®) assay detected all species at concentrations ≥10(3)  CFU/ml within 20-69 h of platelet incubation. Detection of slow-growing and biofilm-forming strains was delayed in comparison with the other strains. This assay could be used as a point-of-issue method to increase the safety of the platelet supply.
authors.affiliation: Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramirez-Arcos
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perkins
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000382:microbiology*; D058731:Blood Safety; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000502:physiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: BacTx®; biofilm-positive bacteria; platelet contaminants