Platelet Storage and Preservation Techniques

Effective platelet storage and preservation underpins safe and timely transfusion therapy for bleeding and thrombocytopenic patients worldwide. Traditional storage at 20–24 °C with gentle agitation is limited to five to seven days owing to progressive biochemical and morphological alterations collectively termed the platelet storage lesion. During this period platelets exhibit metabolic depletion, membrane glycoprotein rearrangements, pH drift and accumulation of pro-inflammatory mediators. Cold storage at 1–6 °C reduces bacterial proliferation and may extend functional shelf life for urgent haemostatic use but accelerates clearance from circulation post-transfusion. Cryopreservation using dimethyl sulfoxide allows storage at –80 °C for up to two years, providing strategic stockpiling capacity; however, freeze-thaw cycles alter membrane integrity, reduce aggregation and produce a procoagulant phenotype. Advances in additive solutions, pathogen-reduction technologies and controlled-rate freezing aim to mitigate storage lesions and preserve platelet function. Emerging strategies such as refrigeration combined with tailored cryoprotective agents and novel storage media are driving a paradigm shift towards longer-term, safer platelet supplies, with significant implications for rural, military and resource-limited settings.

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Platelet Storage and Preservation Techniques publication trend

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Technical terms

Platelet storage lesion: A suite of structural, metabolic and biochemical alterations that accrue in platelets during storage, impairing function and viability.

Cryopreservation: The preservation of cells at ultra-low temperatures using cryoprotectants to prevent ice-crystal damage and allow long-term storage.

Cold-stored platelets: Platelets maintained at refrigerated temperatures (1–6 °C) to inhibit bacterial growth, with trade-offs in post-transfusion persistence.

Procoagulant phenotype: A state in which platelets expose phosphatidylserine and other factors on their surface, enhancing thrombin generation and clot formation.

Lyso-phosphatidylcholine/lyso-phosphatidic acid: Bioactive lipid mediators generated during platelet storage that influence activation status and may predict adverse transfusion reactions.

References

1. Bioactive lipids as biomarkers of adverse reactions associated with apheresis platelet concentrate transfusion. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
2. Limited Impact of Drone Transport of Blood on Platelet Activation. Drones (2024).
3. The Macrophage αMβ2 Integrin αM Lectin Domain Mediates the Phagocytosis of Chilled Platelets*. Journal of Biological Chemistry (2005).
4. Platelet Biochemistry and Morphology after Cryopreservation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2020).
5. The Missing Pieces to the Cold-Stored Platelet Puzzle. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2022).