title: The effect of holding times of whole blood and its components during processing on in vitro and in vivo quality.
abstract: Whole blood is not usually collected close to the processing site, which results in a holding time between collection and processing. In some countries, the holding time is limited to 8 hours, after which the units are cooled, rendering them useless for platelet preparation. Other countries allow a 24-hour (“overnight”) ambient hold to allow platelet preparation. The impact of this holding time on subsequent blood components will be reviewed in this article. In addition, there are various “in-process” holding times that further prolong the time before the final blood component is ready. Particularly, these in-process holding times are not well defined and poorly controlled,but can nevertheless affect the biochemical and functional characteristics of blood components. Furthermore, current, non–evidence-based, guidelines have restricted the length of some of these holding times. This article summarizes the evidence and fills gaps where evidence is lacking.
authors.forename: Pieter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Korte
mesh_terms: D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000592:standards; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors