The effect of mode of agitation and type of plastic bag on storage characteristics and in vivo kinetics of platelet concentrates.

We studied the characteristics of platelet concentrates stored for 5 days at 22 degrees C. Platelets were prepared in three plastic bags (PL 732, PL 1240, and CLX) and stored on one of four platelet agitators, 1- or 6-rpm elliptical and 2- or 6-rpm circular rotators. A total of 76 studies were divided among 12 groups, each group being composed of a different storage bag-rotator combination. In vivo recovery and survival were calculated using Indium-111 oxine-labeled platelets injected into autologous volunteers. Platelet recovery was assessed at 2 hours postinjection or as the y-intercept of the multiple-hit model survival curve. Survival was calculated using linear, exponential, and multiple-hit computer models. Linear T 1/2 also was calculated as an index of platelet survival. At 5 days, the pH of all concentrates was above pH 7.0 and platelet counts were above 5.5 X 10(10) per bag except for the PL 732 with the 6-rpm elliptical rotator, which was 4.6 X 10(10) per bag. This combination also showed a significantly higher poststorage lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) discharge compared to the mean of the other 11 groups (23.6 +/- 5.4% vs. 10.4 +/- 3.0%, p less than 0.05); however, the beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) release was not statistically different.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)