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.
A recent study published in JAMA has revealed that platelets preserved in cold storage are both safe and efficacious for treating bleeding, while also boasting a longer shelf life compared to platelets stored at room temperature. Dr. James Preuss and Dr. Warren Pavey, researchers from The University of Western Australia's Medical School, co-authored the study.
Traditionally, room-temperature storage has been the preferred method for platelets as they remain viable in the bloodstream post-transfusion, leading to their current storage limits of seven days in major city centers due to supply constraints and waste risk.
The new research indicates that cold-stored platelets maintain their clot-forming capabilities as effectively as those stored at room temperature, suggesting a potential extension of storage duration to 21 days at 4°C. This finding was observed in a study comparing the hemostatic efficacy of storing apheresis, or single-donor, platelets for 21 days at 4°C versus room-temperature storage for up to seven days, specifically in the context of cardiac surgical bleeding.
The study found no significant difference in bleeding-related outcomes or complication rates between patients receiving cold-stored and room-temperature platelets following complex cardiac surgery.
If validated, this approach could potentially triple the shelf life of platelets, extending it from seven to 21 days without compromising hemostatic efficacy for bleeding treatment. Such an extension could significantly reduce platelet wastage and enhance the reliability of platelet supply, particularly vital in Australia's geographically dispersed population.
The study's findings, titled "Cold and Room-Temperature Platelets in Cardiac Surgery," were authored by Philip C. Spinella et al. The research is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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