Does anyone have a source that can be cited for an expiration date/time on a pheresis platelet that is received from the supplier in two attached bags and combined into one bag at issue?

FYI: The system remains a closed system but the surface area for O2 exchange has been decreased.

thanks for your help.

Alana

I assume you are going to combine the bags when the product is released for transfusion.  I don't believe you have to change the exp date.  If they come back, I would discard them after 4 hrs due to the condition you mentioned.  I don't know of studies that have looked at the viability of plts combined in this fashion.

Thank you David. An Expriration of 4 hours was my thought as well. alana

This is really nagging me. I know there's something somewhere that talks about this but I can't recall it at the moment.

When we pooled them together, we changed the date to 24 hours.  We also lost the ability to return them to the supplier if they ended up not getting transfused.

 

We no longer pool them together.

We do not pool them, but rather have nursing do it when they start the transfusion.  This avoids the issue all together.

Pool the bags right before issue. Then the product expires in 24 hours.

I agree - don't pool them.  You only have to waste one unit due to pooling/shortened expiration to figure that one out.  

kirkaw

What is the source you use for a 24 hour expiration? alana

ARC puts a tag on the double bag plateletpheresis that states: "Component expires 24 hours after pooling or on the date stated on the component,whichever is earlier."

It's a "manufacturer instructions" type of requirement.

Thanks everyone. Alana

Occasionally our supplier gives us pheresis platelets for our neonates in two attached bags. SInce we use the sterile docking device to prepare syringe aliquots, we pool the platelets into one bag, mix well and take out the aliquot, and then re-connect the bags and divide the contents evenly between the two and store them as before. Is there any reason this would not be an acceptable practice?

Occasionally our supplier gives us pheresis platelets for our neonates in two attached bags. SInce we use the sterile docking device to prepare syringe aliquots, we pool the platelets into one bag, mix well and take out the aliquot, and then re-connect the bags and divide the contents evenly between the two and store them as before. Is there any reason this would not be an acceptable practice?

You may want to check with the blood supplier or bag manufacturer about a minimum volume of product/bag. 

Why do they come in the two separate bags to begin with ?

Different SDP bags are manufactured to be within certain ranges of volume and certain ranges of platelet count per bag. Remember that the bags are designed to facilitate gaseous exchange.

Why do they come in the two separate bags to begin with ?

A single donor platelet pheresis must have a final platelet count  between 3.0x10¹¹ and 6.0x10¹¹ to be considered a full platelet dose. If the final count is, say, 6.1x10¹¹, that unit can be split and made into two separate units.  If the final platelet count is, say, 5.9x10¹¹, the volume of the platelets and plasma may be too high to assure adequate oxygen exchange in one single bag but the count too low to make two separate units.  Therefore, the unit will be separated into two attached bags in a closed unit to allow maximum storage but is still only 1 unit.  Hope that helps AMYM1586

 

To all my BB Guru's here: If I am wrong, please feel free to correct my understanding.