Platelet cryopreservation using dimethyl sulfoxide.

Abstract

Abstract : The consistent results obtained over a number of years demonstrate the feasibility and clinical importance of large-scale programs of platelet cryopreservation. Similar results using DMSO as a cryoprotective agent have been found in smaller studies in other laboratories. Similar basic technology was utilized in all of these studies with the major variation being in freezing rate. Recoveries of 40 to 60 percent have been reported using either controlled-rate freezing (1 degree per minute), relatively rapid freezing (such as utilized in our studies), or slower freezing rates 2 to 3 degrees per minute acheived by placing the platelets in a mechanical freezer. Other variations have included differences in the freezing bag (polyolefin versus polyvinylchloride), DMSO concentration(up to 10%), and collection methodology. It has been demonstrated that results are similar using manual plateletpheresis methods or cell separators. In recent studies, the corrected count increment following 66 transfusions of frozen platelets collected using the Haemonetics Model 30 processor (Haemonetics Corp., Natick, Mass.) was 12,3000 (range 0-36,800) compared to a mean CCI of 11,7000 (0-34,900) using manual plateletpheresis technique (N = 211).