Platelet transfusion therapy

The relative merits of apheresis platelets and platelet concentrates are un dergoing debate due to evolving issues of safety. inventory, and cost. The application of photochemical inactivation technology may eliminate any rati onale for the use of apheresis platelets rather than pooled platelet concen trates, so that the relative merits of these two alternatives will be debat ed over costs and inventory. Doses of apheresis platelets are determined by donor platelet count and by platelet yield. The generation of a platelet a pheresis inventory has been accompanied by a decline in whole blood invento ry; research into the impact of these distinct donor pools on national bloo d policy is needed. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.