IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE ON PLATELET CONCENTRATES

Platelets may be activated and become acidic during transportation and storage, resulting in poor post-transfusion platelet survival and rec overy. In this study, we evaluated the current local shipment protocol for platelet concentrates and the storage technique used at the Natio nal Taiwan University Hospital. Platelet concentrates were transported routinely in cardboard boxes at ambient temperature. They were then s tored in an agitator at 20 degrees C to 24 degrees C in the blood bank . We measured changes in beta-thromboglobulin, pH, platelet distributi on width (PDW) and platelet counts before and after shipment and stora ge. The level of beta-thromboglobulin reflects platelet activation and was determined by enzyme immunoassay. The beta-thromboglobulin levels and platelet counts were not significantly different after transporta tion and during the storage period but there were significant changes in pH and PDW after storage (P < 0.001). Regression study showed that the prestorage platelet counts and pH were strongly associated with th e pH at the end of storage (r= -0.71, r= 0.75 respectively). We conclu ded that the current shipment technique has no adverse effect on the i n vitro characteristics of platelets, and the prestorage pH and platel et count could be used as predictors for the pH at end of storage. The data indicate that it is important to measure the prestorage pH and p latelet count to set up an optimal storage strategy.