Improvement of storage of blood products
Project leader: Margriet Dijkstra-Tiekstra PhD
Improving materials and methods
The department Transfusion Monitoring (TraM) of Sanquin Research in Groningen has organized the study BEST (Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion) Collaborative to evaluate the effect of overnight storage of whole blood or buffy coats on in vitro quality of platelets concentrates. Included in this study were six centers located in Europe and Northern America.
Besides this, TraM also carries out research projects for the stem cell department. A study was performed to optimize freezing conditions of stem cells. The influence of sample materials on the in vitro quality of stem cell simulated products using the current freezing program was evaluated, as well as the addition of DMSO. Additionally, pilots were done to find a way to validate HPC aphaeresis.
For the production-department, TraM studied the influence of prolonged separation of whole blood on amount of hemolysis. Hemolysis is significantly higher for red cells after prolonged separation and all hemolytic concentrates derived from units with prolonged separation.
Quality Improvement
Every year, TraM organizes 'send arounds' to compare the results of different instruments used within the different departments of Sanquin Blood Bank. Samples are prepared centrally at TraM and distributed to the participants. Afterwards the results are collected and analyzed. Reports with conclusions are written and sent to the different departments.
In 2010 again five national send arounds were executed.
- Comparison of cell counters for counting platelets in platelet concentrates and storage solution
- Comparison of flowcytometric instruments for counting leukocytes in plasma, red cell concentrates, platelet concentrates and platelet storage solution
- Comparison of blood gas analyzers for measuring pH in platelet concentrates
- Comparison of flow cytometric instruments for measuring platelet activation in platelet concentrates using CD62p expression and Annexin V binding
- Comparison of flow cytomteric instruments for counting platelets using CD41 expression
Key publications
- Henkelman S, Dijkstra-Tiekstra MJ, de Wildt-Eggen J, Graaff R, Rakhorst G, van Oeveren W. Is red blood cell rheology preserved during routine blood bank storage? Transfusion. 2010; 50(4):941-8.
- Van der Meer PF, Kerkhoffs JL, Curvers J, Scharenberg J, de Korte D, Brand A, de Wildt-Eggen J. In vitro comparison of platelet storage in plasma and in four platelet additive solutions, and the effect of pathogen reduction: a proposal for an in vitro rating system. Vox Sang 2009; 98(4):517-24.
- Dijkstra-Tiekstra MJ, van der Meer PF, Cardigan R, Devine D, Prowse C, Sandgren P, de Wildt-Eggen J. Platelet concentrates from fresh or overnight-stored blood, an international study. Van, Baumann-Baretti B, Hess JR; BEST Collaborative. Transfusion 2011; 51 Suppl 1:38S-44S.
- Cardigan R, van der Meer PF, Pergande C, Cookson P, Baumann-Baretti B, Cancelas JA, Devine D, Gulliksson H, Vassallo R, de Wildt-Eggen J. Coagulation factor content of plasma produced from whole blood stored for 24 hours at ambient temperature: results from an international multicenter BEST Collaborative study. Transfusion 2011; 51 Suppl 1:50S-57S.
- Van der Meer PF, Cancelas JA, Cardigan R, Devine DV, Gulliksson H, Sparrow RL, Vassallo RR, de Wildt-Eggen J, Baumann-Baretti B, Hess JR, BEST Collaborative. Evaluation of overnight hold of whole blood at room temperature before component processing: effect of red blood cell (RBC) additive solutions on in vitro RBC measures. Transfusion 2011; 51 Suppl 1:15S-24S.