check platelet precount for whole blood donor

[Surbhi]

Why we don't check the pre donation platelet count of whole blood donor when we are preparing components like platelet concentrate from it? Hb estimation ensures red cell quality but nothing for PC.

Any reference in this regard is welcome.

[kate murphy]

There is a standard for a platelet concentrate product >=5.5x10E10.

The Hbg estimate done on donors pretransfusion is to protect the donor - to make sure we're not dropping their Hbg too much. A therapeutic dose of red cells varies widely - what's actually in the bag.

Most healthy donors have millions more platelets than necessary - 150,000-300,000/uL. You really only need about 10-20,000 for hemostasis.

Platelet concentrates are also usually pooled before transfusion, so variations are minimized by the pooling.

Donors giving platelets by pheresis should have a pre-platelet count done, as many more platelets are collected.