• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Transfusion News
  • About Us
  • Topics
    • Adverse Events (non-infectious)
    • Blood Donation
    • Cell Therapy
    • Coagulation & Plasma Transfusion
    • Platelet Transfusion
    • Policy and Guidelines
    • Quality Control and Regulatory
    • RBC Transfusion
    • Serology/Genotyping
    • Special Transfusion Situations
    • Transfusion Transmitted Infections
  • Continuing Education
  • Archives
  • Podcasts
  • Question of the Day
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts
  • Follow us on
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts

Platelets Stored for 6 to 7 Days Are Not Inferior to Platelets Stored for 2 to 5 Days for Stable Hematology Patients

August 14, 2015

Bacteria research

Bacterial contamination is a major concern for platelets, which limits platelet storage and availability. Platelets are currently stored at room temperature for up to 5 days.

The National Health Service Blood and Transplant of the United Kingdom recently conducted a randomized non-inferiority trial comparing platelets stored for 2- to 5-days versus 6- to 7-days in 122 adult thrombocytopenic hematology patients. After bacterial screening, researchers found no evidence that platelets stored for 2- to 5-days were superior to platelets stored for 6- to 7-days in stable hematology patients.  Seventy-one percent of transfusions with platelets stored 2- to 5-days (mean=3.8 days, SD=1.0) were successful compared to 69% of transfusions for platelets stored 6- to 7-days (mean=6.4 days, SD=0.5)).  The mean corrected platelet count increments, the number of bleeding events, and the interval to the next transfusions were comparable in each group.  Further research is needed to evaluate platelets stored for up to 7 days used for transfusions in trauma and surgery patients.

Reference

  1. MacLennan S, Harding K, Llewelyn C, Choo L, Bakrania L, Massey E, Stanworth S, Pendry K, Williamson LM.  A randomized noninferiority crossover trial of corrected count increments and bleeding in thrombocytopenic hematology patients receiving 2- to 5- versus 6- or 7-day stored platelets.  Transfusion 2015;55: 1856–1865.

TRF_CMETransfusion offers CME credit for this study! Log on at www.wileyhealthlearning.com/trf.

Filed Under

  • CME
  • News
  • Platelet Transfusion
  • Quality Control and Regulatory

Recommended

  • Eculizumab for Treating Cold Agglutinin Disease

  • Lower Transfusion Thresholds do not Harm Septic Shock Patients

  • Serological Screening of Blood Donations Suggests SARS-CoV-2 May Have Been Introduced in the US before January 2020

Show Comments

Comments on this article are closed.

Get the latest news. Subscribe to our mailing list. Sign Up

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Directed Blood Donations Should be Limited

  • Babesia Infection Reduces Red Cell Deformability

  • New Erythropoietin Gene Variants Linked to Hereditary Erythrocytosis

  • Multifaceted Threats to the Blood Supply from Climate Change

    Question of the Day

    Copyright © 2025 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Privacy Policy

    Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies Wiley