CURRENT METHODS FOR THE PREPARATION OF PLATELET CONCENTRATES - LABORATORY AND CLINICAL ASPECTS

Modern blood transfusion services are striving to attain the highest s tandards through continual quality improvement and ensure that a forma lised quality system is in place in the organisation for time manageme nt and waste reduction. With respect to the production of platelet con centrates (PCs), semi-automated and automated procedures are now avail able which are convenient and allow the processing of multiple packs s imultaneously or the production of multiple doses of PCs with low leuc ocyte content. Nevertheless, PCs are highly heterogeneous on the basis of cellular content and storage stability. Statistical process contro l (SPC) is essential to ensure that optimal quality is maintained. In the light of new developments in platelet production, their clinical e ffect should be reappraised. This article highlights some of the key f eatures in the production of PCs, focusing on basic concepts and quali ty indicators which reflect in vivo functions. The potential for bacte riological contamination and future production strategies are briefly mentioned. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.