Platelet storage performance is consistent by donor: a pilot study comparing “good” and “poor” storing platelets

BACKGROUND In retrospective studies, it has been shown that differences in storage variables of platelet (PLT) concentrates (PCs) are partially donor dependent. It was our aim to prospectively determine the donor effect on PLT quality. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Based on quality control data of outdated apheresis PCs, male donors were selected with at least one PC with a pH value of more than 7.0 (“good,” n = 6) or one PC with a pH value of less than 6.7 (“poor,” n = 6) on Day 8. These donors donated a PC (Trima Accel, Terumo) and completed a short questionnaire about their health and lifestyle. PCs were stored for 12 days and analyzed at regular intervals for in vitro quality. RESULTS Donor characteristics were comparable, except that zero of six good and four of six poor donors reported high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol/fat and/or use of medicines. Lactate production in good PCs was lower than that in poor PCs (0.09 ± 0.03 mmol/day/1011 PLTs vs. 0.13 ± 0.04 mmol/day/1011 PLTs, p