Abstract:
This study is a descriptive and analytical prospective cross-sectional study conducted in the period from February to April 2015 to assess the quality parameters of platelet concentrates prepared at Elmek Nimer University Hospital Blood Bank. Fifty Platelet concentrate units were prepared from whole blood using the platelet-rich plasma method. All units were stored at 22-2 ˚C on a flatbed agitator for five days. Platelet quality parametersincluding the platelet count, volume of the platelet concentrate, swirling, residual white blood cells, red blood cells and pH were assessed on day one and day five.
The results revealed that the mean platelet concentrate volume was 72.06±10.42 ml and ranged from 50-93 mlVs a mean of 68.06±10.42 ml and range from 46-89 ml, the mean platelet count was 5.09±1.51x1010/Unit and ranged from 2.2-9.9x1010/Unit Vs a mean of 4.50±1.46x1010/Unit and range from 1.9-9.2x1010/Unit, the mean residual white blood cells was 18.96±16.69x106/Unit and ranged from 0.0-83.6x106/Unit Vs a mean of 13.32±13.12x106 and the rangefrom 0.0-57.6x106/Unit,the contaminated red blood cells had a mean of 1.41±0.78x109/Unit and ranged from 0.0-3.20x109/Unit Vs a mean of 1.33±0.74x109/Unit and range from 0.0-3.04x109/Unit, swirling score had a mean of 2.94±0.24 score and ranged from 2-3 score Vs a mean of 1.92±0.63 score and range from 1-3 sore and the mean pH was 7.94±0.20 and range from 7.4-8.2 Vs a mean of 7.72±0.23 and range from 7.3-8.1 for day one and day five respectively. On day one 38 %,( 19) of the platelet concentrate had a volume of 50-70 ml, only40 %, (20) had a platelet count of >5.5x1010/Unit , 4% (2) of the platelet concentrates did not have detectable red cell contamination,score 3 swirling was observed in 94 % , (47) of units and only 6% , (3) revealed score 2 swirling. No unit had score 1 swirling and the pH was above 6.2 in all units. On day five only 30%, (15) of the concentrates had a platelet count of ≥ 5.5x1010/Unit,16%, (8) of units had score 3, and thepH was maintained above 6.2 in all units.
The study revealed that only less than half of the platelet concentrates units fulfilling minimum quality requirement specifications for platelet counts while all units had pH well above quality requirement specifications. Also there was significant decrease in the quality parameters at day five than day one (P value <0.05).This indicated that further standardization on the methods of platelet concentrate collections, preparation and storage is required.
