How to Store Platelet Concentrates

Platelets are one of the components of whole blood and are essential for normal clotting of blood. When platelets are decreased in number or functionally abnormal, the ability to form a clot is impaired and hemorrhage is likely. Fortunately, medical science found a way to collect and separate whole blood into its individual life-saving components--platelets being one of them. Blood is drawn from donors at designated collection facilities, such as the Red Cross. Using specialized equipment, platelets are separated out and the rest of the blood is returned to the donor. The resulting platelet concentrate is collected in a plastic container approved for platelet storage, ready to be transported to a hospital or other medical facility for transfusion.

Things You'll Need

• Unit(s) of platelet concentrate
• Platelet rotator
• Thermometer
• Work space capable of maintaining ambient temperature of 20 to 24 degrees Celsius

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Instructions

• 1

  Place an order for platelet concentrate. Unless your facility draws donors and prepares platelet concentrate, you will need to order platelets from an outside source such as the Red Cross. You will need to call or fax the order just as you would when ordering any other blood product. The number of units ordered will depend on the request of the doctor caring for the patient who is to receive the platelets, and your facility's policy regarding the quantity required to raise or supplement the recipient's existing platelet count.

• 2

  Set your platelet rotator in an area where the room temperature is at 20 to 24 degrees Celsius and can be maintained within that temperature range. If the temperature is too cool, turn up the thermostat; if it is too warm, blow a fan across ice or move the rotator to another spot. Platelet function can be impaired or inactivated if the temperature falls out of the range.

• 3

  Unpack and place the unit of platelet concentrate on the rotator as soon as it arrives at your facility. Turn the rotator on--it is important that the platelets be gently and continuously rotated to keep them suspended in the plasma until they are transfused. Place a thermometer near the rotator and monitor the temperature at regular intervals during rotation.

• 4

  Notify the nursing unit that the platelets have arrived and are ready to be transfused. Platelets should be transfused as soon as possible after they arrive.

• 5

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