Chilled platelets could safely expand lifesaving supply to bleeding patients, trial shows
In a thoughtfully designed adaptive clinical trial, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine physician-scientists demonstrated that the U.S. could triple or quadruple the supply of platelets available to help save patients who are bleeding, of all ages, and extend the life-saving therapy to rural regions and community hospitals. Platelets are the component of blood that encourages clotting,…
A new study led by University of Pittsburgh researchers has demonstrated that refrigerated platelets can safely be stored for up to 21 days, potentially tripling or quadrupling the supply of life-saving blood products available for bleeding patients of all ages. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), could drastically reduce waste and improve platelet availability, particularly in rural and community hospitals that struggle to keep room-temperature platelets in stock due to insufficient demand.
Platelets, which play a crucial role in blood clotting and stem bleeding, are currently stored at room temperature with a five-to-seven-day shelf life, resulting in a significant loss of about 10% to 20% of the collected units annually, costing hospitals around $300 million. The study, known as the Chilled Platelet Study (CHIPS), enrolled 1,000 patients from cardiac surgery sites in the U.S. and Australia, with results showing that chilled platelets were as effective as those stored at room temperature for up to seven days.
By extending the shelf life of platelets, the trial suggests that the availability of this essential blood product could be significantly increased, benefiting patients in remote and underserved areas, as well as potentially aiding military personnel in conflict zones.
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