Platelet concentrates prepared after a 20- to 24-hour hold of the whole blood at 22°C

Abstract

Background: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that red blood cells must be refrigerated within 8 hours of whole blood collection. Longer storage of whole blood at 22°C before component preparation would have many advantages.

Study design and methods: Two methods of holding whole blood for 20 to 24 hours at room temperature were evaluated, refrigerated plates or a 23°C incubator. After extended whole blood storage, platelet (PLT) concentrates were prepared from PLT-rich plasma on Day 1 postdonation, and the PLTs were stored for 6 more days. On Day 7 of PLT storage, blood was drawn from each subject to prepare fresh PLTs. The stored and fresh PLTs were radiolabeled and transfused into their donor.

Results: Eleven subjects' whole blood was stored using refrigerated butanediol plates (Compocool, Fresenius), and 10 using an incubator. Poststorage PLT recoveries averaged 47 ± 13% versus 53 ± 11% and survivals averaged 4.6 ± 1.7 days versus 4.7 ± 0.9 days for Compocool versus incubator storage, respectively (p = NS). With all results, poststorage PLT recoveries averaged 75 ± 10% of fresh and survivals 57 ± 13% of fresh; PLT recoveries met FDA guidelines for poststorage PLT viability but not survivals.

Conclusion: Seven-day poststorage PLT viability is comparable when whole blood is stored for 22 ± 2 hours at 22°C using either refrigerated plates or an incubator to maintain temperature before preparing PLT concentrates.

Figure 1. Whole Blood Cooling Rates

Two individual units of whole blood were warmed to body temperature (37°C) and allowed to cool by three different methods: 1) in the Compocool storage container with a Compocool plate (■); 2) in a 23°C incubator (▲); and 3) on a test tube rack in our research laboratory (◆).

Figure 2. Donor’s Platelet Count Versus Platelet Count Of The Platelet Concentrate On Day 7 Post-Storage

There is a direct relationship between the donor’s platelet count and the platelet yield in the concentrate on day 7 (r²=0.70) (p<0.001). Data for whole blood units stored with the Compocool plates are shown as triangles (▲) and in the incubator as circles (●).