Background: Posttransfusion complications can be prevented by pretransfusion removal of donor white cells from platelet concentrate. The filtration used for this removal seems to have little effect on platelet function and activation, but more information is needed on its effect on function during subsequent long-term storage of concentrate.
Study design and methods: The effect of prestorage filtration of buffy coat-prepared platelet concentrates (PCs) on platelet function, metabolism, and activation was investigated. A pool of three PCs, each made of four buffy coats, was split into three equal volumes; two were filtered over two different filters and the third served as a control. Variables monitored immediately after filtration and during the subsequent 8-day storage period at 22 degrees C included aggregation upon stimulation with collagen and/or ADP, platelet adhesion capacity to collagen and fibrinogen in flowing blood, nucleotide content of and nucleobase release by the platelets, expression of activation-dependent antigens, and beta-thromboglobulin release by the platelets.
Results: No differences were observed between the PCs filtered over two different filters and the nonfiltered control PCs immediately after filtration and during storage, except for a selective removal (20%) of beta-thromboglobulin by one filter.
Conclusion: PCs prepared from a pool of four buffy coats can be filtered and subsequently stored for 8 days (starting +/- 24 hours after whole blood collection) without detriment to platelet function, metabolism, or activation.