Current protocols for quality assurance of
platelet concentrates used in
transfusion therapy include evaluation of
platelet count and pH, in vitro measurements of
platelet lysis, membrane activation and microparticle release and assays of
platelet ability to respond to aggregation stimuli and to hypotonic shock. Unfortunately, these assays show limited correlation to
post-
transfusion platelet survival and
recovery in the recipient. This requires validation of
platelet collection and storage systems with expensive and time consuming autologous
transfusion studies in healthy volunteers with radiolabeled
platelets. Furthermore,
platelets from some donors show increased lesion during storage for reasons that are incompletely understood. This editorial discusses recent strides in proteomic technology which open interesting perspectives for improving current procedures for quality assurance of
platelet concentrates and increasing the safety and effectiveness of
platelet transfusion in medical and surgical conditions.
This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Integrated omics.