Effect of Temperature on Short-Term Preservation of Platelets for <i>in vitro </i>Tests

Abstract

We have evaluated the effect on the response of citrated platelet-rich plasma to aggregating agents of storage at 4 °C versus room temperature (21 °C) for 2 and 4 h after venipuncture. While there were small decreases in some responses to epinephrine, ADP and collagen attributable to 21 °C storage, only in the case of ristocetin-induced aggregation was a profound difference noted. Platelets stored at 4 °C for 4 h showed no significant change in response to ristocetin. In contrast, those stored at room temperature showed a marked decrease. This change is not likely to be attributable to a change of pH, although pH rose less with storage at 4 °C than at 21 °C. It is recommended that PRP for in vitro testing be stored at 4 °C.

In vitro Methods and the Study of Platelet Mechanisms

“…As pointed out by Zucker [73], the pH is poorly controlled in many studies because it depends on the amount of C02 in the sus pending medium and this changes upon ex posure to air. Several methods have been developed to control pH by maintaining constant pC02 or preventing exposure to air [70,72,74], The time and temperature of short-term storage of platelet-rich plasma before it is tested influences the extent of aggregation [68,[75][76][77][78]. Most investigators now study aggregation at 37°C.…”