Breakthrough in Platelet Preservation

Researchers at Hyperbaric Systems (Palo Alto, CA, USA) have preserved blood platelets for a period of 10 days, an unmatched milestone in more than 40 years of platelet research, they say.

Currently, platelets are stored at room temperature for up to five days. In Japan, the allowed storage period is only three days. In both cases, storage has caused logistic and bacterial problems for blood centers and hospitals. Cold storage of platelets has been a long-standing quest of researchers. However, recovery of functional platelets utilizing this method has eluded scientists after several decades of concerted effort.

Hyperbaric Systems has begun a series of third-party validation tests with The Center for Blood Research (Sacramento, CA, USA), a division of the Sacramento Medical Foundation. The tests are being conducted to validate and substantiate the recovery of viable platelets from cold storage, utilizing Hyperbaric's proprietary technology. As well as extending the shelf life of platelets, cold storage virtually stops any further bacterial growth.

"If Hyperbaric's research claims turn out to be true, the impact on the world medical environment will be considerable and dramatic,” said Dr. Malcolm R. Mackenzie, director at the Center for Blood Research. "Blood platelet supplies and demands will be met with considerable ease compared to the inventory and waste problems caused by the five-day shelf life they have at present.




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