QUALITY OF POOLED PLATELET CONCENTRATES PREPARED FROM BUFFY COATS ANDSTORED IN AN ADDITIVE SOLUTION AFTER FILTRATION

Platelet concentrates prepared from buffy coat were pooled and stored for 6 days after removal of leukocytes by filtration. The platelets we re stored in plasma or in an additive solution, Plasmalyte-A. In vitro platelet function was better preserved using Plasmalyte-A than plasma with regard to osmotic reversal and aggregation. No significant diffe rences for the release of platelet markers beta-thromboglobulin, plate let factor 4, or lactate dehydrogenase pre- and post-filtration and st orage in plasma or Plasmalyte-A was observed. Expression of the surfac e membrane glycoproteins Ib, Ia/IIa, IIb/IIIa, and IV measured by flow cytometry after binding of monoclonal antibodies did not change durin g storage. The expression of activation-dependent alpha-granula glycop rotein GMP140, the thrombospondin, and the glycoprotein 53 from the ly sosomal granules was not different between platelet pools stored in pl asma or in Plasmalyte-A. The in vitro quality of platelets stored as p ools is comparable for plasma and the additive solution Plasmalyte-A.