Indium-111 tropolone, a new tracer for platelet labeling.

Platelets have been labeled with a new neutral, lipid-soluble metal complex of indium 111 (111In) and tropolone. Unlike oxine, which is soluble in ethyl alcohol, tropolone is soluble in isotonic saline. Platelet labeling with 111In tropolone can be performed in both acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD) plasma and ACD saline within two hours. Labeling efficiency has been 80% to 90%. 111In tropolone in ACD saline and ACD plasma at tropolone concentrations of 5 and 10 micrograms/ml, respectively, and incubation of the platelets with the tracer at room temperature for 20 minutes were optimal conditions for labeling. The authors have developed an ACD-saline kit for convenient preparation of 111In-labeled platelets. No adverse effect of 111In tropolone on platelets has been observed in studies of biodistribution, recovery, and survival of platelets in rabbits and dogs.