Effect of leukoreduction and temperature on risk of bacterial growth in CPDA ‐1 whole blood: A study of Escherichia coli

Abstract Background Collection of non‐leukoreduced citrate‐phosphate‐dextrose‐adenine (CPDA‐1) whole blood is performed in walking blood banks. Blood collected under field conditions may have increased risk of bacterial contamination. This study was conducted to examine the effects of WBC reduction and storage temperature on growth of Escherichia coli (ATCC® 25922™) in CPDA‐1 whole blood. Methods CPDA‐1 whole blood of 450 ml from 10 group O donors was inoculated with E. coli . Two hours after inoculation, the test bags were leukoreduced with a platelet‐sparing filter. The control bags remained unfiltered. Each whole blood bag was then split into three smaller bags for further storage at 2–6°C, 20–24°C, or 33–37°C. Bacterial growth was quantified immediately, 2 and 3 h after inoculation, on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 for all storage temperatures, and on days 21 and 35 for storage at 2–6°C. Results Whole blood was inoculated with a median of 19.5 (range 12.0–32.0) colony‐forming units per ml (CFU/ml) E. coli . After leukoreduction, a median of 3.3 CFU/ml (range 0.0–33.3) E. coli remained. In the control arm, the WBCs phagocytized E. coli within 24 h at 20–24°C and 33–37°C in 9 of 10 bags. During storage at 2–6°C, a slow self‐sterilization occurred over time with and without leukoreduction. Conclusions Storage at 20–24°C and 33–37°C for up to 24 h before leukoreduction reduces the risk of E. coli ‐contamination in CPDA‐1 whole blood. Subsequent storage at 2–6°C will further reduce the growth of E. coli .