Researchers find cold storage platelets safe and effective

A new study has found platelets kept in cold storage are as effective at treating bleeding and have a longer shelf life than platelets stored at room temperature. Dr. James Preuss and Dr. Warren Pavey, from The University of Western Australia’s Medical School, were co-authors of the study published in JAMA that could make platelets used in cardiac surgery more readily available in Australia.

“Since the 1970s, room-temperature storage has been considered the preferred method because platelets stored this way survive longer in the bloodstream after transfusion,” Preuss said. “As a result, in Australia platelets are currently stored at room temperature for up to seven days and are discarded after this time because of the risk of bacterial contamination.

“Therefore platelets are often stored only in major city centers because of limited supply, short shelf life and the risk of wastage if not used.”

Recent research suggests that cold-stored platelets retain their ability to form blood clots as well as room-temperature platelets, raising the possibility that platelets could be stored longer under refrigerated conditions.

The study reviewed the hemostatic efficacy of storing apheresis, or single-donor, platelets for up to 21 days at 4°C compared with room-temperature platelets stored for up to seven days for use in cardiac surgical bleeding.

“We found the cold-stored platelets to be safe and effective in cardiac surgical bleeding with storage up to 21 days,” Pavey said. “There was no significant difference between the cold- and room-temperature platelets in bleeding-related outcomes following complex cardiac surgery. Nor were there any differences in complication rates, including thrombotic complications, between patients receiving cold-stored and room-temperature platelets.”

Cold storage of platelets could potentially triple shelf life, from seven to 21 days, without reducing hemostatic efficacy for the treatment of bleeding.

“Extending platelet storage could reduce the number of platelets discarded and help maintain a more reliable platelet supply,” Preuss said. “This is particularly relevant in Australia, where large geographic distances and a dispersed population can make it challenging to provide timely access to platelets.”

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Lisa Lock

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Andrew Zinin

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