Assessment of the soluble proteins HMGB1, CD40L and CD62P during various platelet preparation processes and the storage of platelet concentrates: The BEST collaborative study.

Background: Structural and biochemical changes in stored platelets are influenced by collection and processing methods. This international study investigates the effects of platelet (PLT) processing and storage conditions on HMGB1, sCD40L, and sCD62P protein levels in platelet concentrate supernatants (PCs).

Study Design/methods: PC supernatants (n = 3748) were collected by each international centre using identical centrifugation methods (n = 9) and tested centrally using the ELISA/Luminex platform.

Clinical and in vitro evaluation of red blood cells collected and stored in a non-DEHP plasticized bag system.

Background And Objectives: Di-ethyl-hexyl-phthalate (DEHP) is currently the main plasticizer used for whole blood collection systems. However, in Europe, after May 2025, DEHP may no longer be used above 0.1% (w/w) in medical devices.

Platelet concentrates in platelet additive solutions generate less complement activation products during storage than platelets stored in plasma.

Background: Platelet transfusions can be associated with adverse reactions, such as febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction (FNHTR). It has been suggested that damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) and complement play a role in FNHTR. This study investigated the nature of DAMPs and complement activation products contained in platelet concentrates during storage, with a specific focus on different platelet storage solutions.

Biotinylation of platelets for transfusion purposes a novel method to label platelets in a closed system.

Background: Labeling of platelets (PLTs) is required to measure the recovery and survival of transfused PLTs in vivo. Currently a radioactive method is used to label PLTs. However, application of those radiolabeling methods is limited by both safety issues and the inability to isolate transfused PLTs from the circulation.

Apheresis causes complement deposition on red blood cells (RBCs) and RBC antigen alterations, possibly inducing enhanced clearance.

Background: Apheresis is increasingly being applied to collect cells or plasma, even allowing the collection of multiple blood components during one procedure. Although the quality of the cellular and plasma products that are obtained by apheresis have been extensively studied and shown to be of high quality, the impact of apheresis on the red blood cells (RBCs) that are returned to the donor has not been investigated.

Study Design And Methods: The effect of the plasma- or plateletpheresis procedures by four different devices-MCS+ (Haemonetics), PCS2 (Haemonetics), Trima Accel (Terumo BCT), and Autopheresis-C (Auto-C, Fresenius Kabi)-on the RBCs that are returned to the donor was tested in a blinded, prospective trial in a cohort of 25 donors.

In vitro evaluation of the quality of blood products collected and stored in systems completely free of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate-plasticized materials.

Background: The plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is a common component in blood bags. DEHP is noncovalently bound to polyvinylchloride (PVC) polymer and can leach into the blood product. There are public concerns that exposure to DEHP might induce developmental and reproductive toxicity in humans.

Noninvasive measurement of pH in platelet concentrates with a fiber optic fluorescence detector.

Background: Stored platelets (PLTs) are metabolically active, resulting in a decrease of pH during storage. The pH of PLT concentrates (PCs) is recognized as a measure of quality, and pH limits are set by regulatory bodies. A pH sensor was built into a PLT storage container, and the feasibility of testing pH using a noninvasive fluorescent measurement method was evaluated.

The mitochondrial membrane potential in human platelets: a sensitive parameter for platelet quality.

Background: Deterioration of platelet (PLT) quality during storage is accompanied by an increase in lactate production, indicating a decrease in mitochondrial function. In this study, the optimal conditions under which the fluorescent dye JC-1 can be used to detect changes in mitochondrial function in PLTs were established.

Study Design And Methods: PLTs were incubated at 37 degrees C in synthetic medium under various conditions of JC-1 loading.