Is anybody performing bacterial testing for frozen / deglycerolized blood? If so, what method and sample size are you using?

Thanks,

Elizabeth Hopkins

Central IL Community Blood Center

ehopkins@cicbc.org

We don't do any bacterial testing for frozen/deglyced. Bacteria do survive the freezing process - our micro dept keeps frozen stock cultures.

But is there any requirement for bacterial testing of any red cells?

We only do blood cultures if there has been a significant febrile reaction.

Other than that only platelets are cultured.

There is no requirement that I know of for regular frozen / deglycerolized units. However, our Medical Director wants to license our frozen RBCs because our Reference Laboratory ships frozen RBCs to other blood centers at times. Bacterial testing is a requirement to license these products, but we can't find any information out on the best method to perform the testing.

Elizabeth Hopkins

Central IL Community Blood Center

ehopkins@cicbc.org

Bacteria shouldn't proliferate in a frozen product, which will then be stored for <24hrs at 4C. Not necessary. Are you sure you don't mean sterility studies, vs bacterial testing. There is a difference.

Edited December 13, 200915 yr by David Saikin
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