The Story of Platelet Additive Solutions and Cold Stored Platelets

Educational Track: Technical/Clinical
Topic: Transfusion Medicine
Intended Audience: Hospitals, Hospital Blood Banks, Immunohematology Reference Labs (IRL’s), Laboratory Staff, Managers/Supervisors, Nurses, Physicians, Residents/Fellows, Scientists, Students (MD, MT, SBB), Technologists, Transfusion Safety Officers
Teaching Level: Basic to Advanced

Director/Moderator: Thandar Aye, MLS(ASCP)SBB, Senior Reference Laboratory Technologist, BloodworksNW, Seattle, WA
Speaker: Moritz Stolla, MD, PhD, Director, Platelet Transfusion Research, BloodworksNW, Associate Medical Director, Swedish Medical Center Transfusion Service, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA

Learning Objectives

After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Discuss the history of cold-stored platelets.
• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of platelet “cold-lesion”.
• Describe technical details such as platelet collection methods, storage conditions and evaluation of platelet function.
• Discuss which patient population is likely to profit from most from cold-stored platelet transfusions.
• Describe specific conditions and regulations related to platelet additive solutions and cold stored platelets.

Program Description

Platelet additive solution (PAS) underwent many modifications since developed in 1980s. In this program, the speaker will discuss the latest developments in platelet storage as well as clinical implications in transfusion of PAS-platelets. Cold platelets were first introduced and routinely used in the 1960-70s. They were discontinued when it was found that the circulation time after transfusion is severely shortened. Cold-stored platelets recently gained attention as specific hemostatic product for actively bleeding patients. The speaker will outline the history, biological changes and technical details of cold-stored platelets and give a future outlook on applications. At the end of this program, participants should be able to answer the following questions:

• History: When were cold-stored platelets first introduced? Why were cold platelets discontinued? Why were cold-platelets being re-considered at this point in time?
• Platelet transfusion biology: What happens when we expose platelets to cold temperature? What are the downsides of the platelet “cold-lesion”, are there advantages?
• Technical details: Storage time, collection methods, PAS versus plasma, storage temperature, how to test for platelet function?
• Patient populations: Which patient population is likely to profit most from cold-stored platelet transfusions: Thrombocytopenic patients versus trauma patients versus surgery patients?
• Specific conditions/questions: TRALI, pathogen reduction, volume reduction, FDA approval of cold-stored platelets and PAS / variance discussion.

Registration

AABB understands the value of learning together as a group but with COVID-19, bringing everyone together to share the experience in person may not be an option for your team. Given this, all participants in a group will be provided the ability to register as a single viewer (AABB will provide a promocode to registered group viewing coordinators to share with their team in advance of the live program). If you are a group interested in participating in this eCast, simply complete the Group Viewing registration form and AABB will provide detailed instructions to share with your team. For single viewers, the process has not changed.

Continuing Education Credit

AABB estimates both the live and on-demand version of this eCast each to be eligible for 1 continuing education credits/contact hours for Physicians, California Nurse, California Lab Personnel, Florida Lab Personnel and General Participation credit. The final number of credit(s) and credit types awarded for this program (live or on-demand) will be determined by the program duration. For more information on each credit type please visit our Continuing Education Credits webpage.

Disclosures for the planners of this event can be found here. Disclosures for the program faculty are provided at the beginning of the program.

Speaker Biography

Dr. Moritz Stolla is a physician scientist with a clinical background in internal medicine and clinical pathology. His research background is in platelet transfusion, vascular biology, and thrombosis/hemostasis. A major focus of Dr. Stolla’s research is to improve platelet transfusions and to evaluate alternative platelet products.

Click here for more about the curriculum for the AABB Blood Banking & Transfusion Medicine 101: eCast Series.  AABB eCasts are 60-90-minute interactive, online programs that include a question and answer period. Participants need access to a computer with an active Internet connection to participate. To register for online live and on-demand programs, view AABB’s registration options and pricing here.