Frozen Platelets—Development and Future Directions

Storage requirements and outdating of platelets represent a continued challenge for blood banks. These hurdles are confounded for rural area hospitals or in military deployments. Over 60 years of research and development into frozen platelets have generated a stable and reproducible product. Valeri's method to freeze platelets in 6% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and storage at −80°C allows for long-term storage alleviating burdens placed on blood banks. Clinical studies show that frozen platelet transfusions are safe with no related thrombotic or other serious adverse events. There are ongoing efforts to demonstrate cryopreserved platelet (CPP) superiority in efficacy studies designed in trauma or cardiac surgery patients. Technical advances in CPP manufacturing including closed system manufacturing, applications of pathogen reduction technology and potency standard characterization add to the appeal of CPP as an alternative to traditional liquid-stored platelets (LP) in settings of supply shortages, mass casualty, active bleeding, rapid provision of HLA-compatible platelets, and remote care.