THE STORAGE QUALITY OF APHERESIS PLATELETS - ANALYSIS OF RESULTS FROM7 DIFFERENT CELL SEPARATORS

Apheresis platelet concentrates (CAP) have been available for more tha n 20 years. Now, as a result of the use of, and progress in, automatic blood separation techniques, the quality of platelets is continually being improved so that we currently have access to purified concentrat es which are not contaminated by red cells and contain only very few w hite cells. In view of the wide experience available to us, it was use ful to monitor a number of qualitative parameters indicating platelet activation during storage. We monitored platelet aggregation, release of beta thromboglobulin, activation of complement and other basic para meters in seven platelet concentrates from seven cell separators (Cobe Spectra, MCS Haemonetics, CS3000+, Baxter, Excel Dideco, Autopheresis C Baxter, and V50 Haemonetics). We found that in the majority of case s aggregation was greatly reduced during storage. Release of beta thro mboglobulin and activation of complement increased. pH remained within acceptable limits in some cases. However, in others (MCS, Excel), a d ecrease in pH < 6.0 was found. To conclude, although CAP, which are fr om a single donor, reduce the risks of transfusion, they are not prote cted from physical alteration and therefore from reduction in the clin ical effects of transfusion. It is therefore necessary to improve the storage conditions of these cells in the future, for example by design ing new plastics, or adding platelet storage media. Basic biological p arameters should also be defined, within the framework of quality assu rance, to evaluate platelet quality. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.