Bacteriological Study of Platelet Concentrates Stored at Room Temperature

Samples of platelet concentrate prepared from double plateletpheresis of volunteers were stored at 4 and 22C for 4-10 days and cultured from 0-72 hr on brain heart infusion media, thioglycollate broth, and tryptic soy broth and incubated at 22 and 37C for 21 days. A closed system was used for 42 units and a limited entry system involving pooling of platelet concentrates was used for 68 units. All 110 units were negative for bacterial contamination at both 4C and room temperature, based on cultures using multiple media under maximized growth conditions for anaerobic as well as aerobic bacteria. Platelet concentrates handled in both a closed system and a limited entry system and stored up to at least 72 hr at room temperature remained free of bacterial contamination and appeared safe for transfusion. (Author)