Comparative studies of the viability of human platelets stored at 4 C in plastic and glass containers.

Abstract

Studies were done to investigate whether the surface of the container (plastic or glass) would influence the viability of human platelets stored at 4C for short intervals.Cr51‐labeled platelets prepared as concentrates suspended in plasma were preserved at 4 C for 24, 48 or 72 hours and their capacity to recirculate and survive after infusion into the respective donors (“viability”) was determined. In addition, the clot retraction property of the stored platelets was measured.Platelet viability was sharply reduced after storage at 4 C in all experiments. When the storage period was limited to 24 hours, survival curves of platelets preserved in plastic bags were similar to those of platelets preserved in glass bottles. However, after 48 hours of storage, viability of platelets preserved in plastic containers had values significantly higher than those of platelets preserved in glass containers. After 72 hours of storage, platelet viability was reduced to minimal values but was still greater for platelets stored in plastic bags.The study of clot retraction confirmed data previously obtained and showed that this platelet property was preserved better by storage in glass bottles rather than in plastic bags. Platelet viability was, however, lost very rapidly during storage at 4 C in either type of container so that the unfavorable effect of plastic on the preservation of clot retraction was thought not to be of practical importance in platelet transfusion therapy.