P latelets are the second most numerous corpuscles in the blood. They are routinely stored in plasma for 5 days at an average temperature of 22°C. Research in the storage of platelets suggests that there are three fundamental quality standard parameters that must be considered for a proper evaluation of the effects of prolonging the shelf life of platelet concentrates, namely, platelet count (PLT), pH value, and absence of bacteria. Platelets' functions should be better maintained in additive solutions with all the parameters necessary to establish their efficacy. Gulliksson (2000) [2] highlighted some other characteristics in using an additive solution for substitution of plasma as a storage medium for platelet concentrates (PCs). The present study was conducted with an aim to extend the shelf life of random donor platelets stored for 7 days with and without additive solution at temperatures of 22°C, 18°C, and 16°C.Background: Platelets are routinely stored in plasma for 5 days at an average temperature of 22°C. In the present study, the shelf life of random donor platelets was extended by storing for 7 days with and without additive solution at temperatures of 22°C, 18°C, and 16°C.
Methods:Random donor platelets were stored in 100% plasma and 20%/80% platelet additive solution. The data were compared using paired "t"-test. The confidence limit was kept at 95%, hence a "p" < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results:Out of total 150 samples, 148 samples were analyzed and 2 were discarded due to the bacterial contamination on day 7 at 22°C without platelet additive solution. A significant difference in platelet count, platelet factor 3 (PF 3), glucose, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and platelet aggregation was observed on day 7 (p < 0.001) at 16°C in without platelet additive solution. In platelet additive solution, the mean values of platelet count, platelet distribution width (PDW), LDH, and pH showed no significant difference on day 7 at 22°C, 18°C, and 16°C. Only significant differences were observed in the levels of mean platelet volume (MPV), PF 3, glucose, and platelet aggregation on day 7 (p < 0.001) at 16°C of the storage period. Conclusion: Random donor platelets functions are better maintained in platelet additive solution as compared to plasma at a lower temperature of 18°C but not at 16°C, on the 7 th day. (Biomed J 2014;37:211-217)