Background/Aim. Pathogen inactivation in blood and blood products is one of
the major means to achieve a zero risk blood supply and improve transfusion
safety. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) activated by ultraviolet (UV) light, produces
active oxygen which damages cell membrane and prevents replication of the
carrier of diseases (viruses, bacteria, protozoa) in all blood products. The
aim of this study was to establish the influence of the process of pathogens
photoinactivation using riboflavin and UV rays on the biochemical and
functional characteristics of platelet concentrates prepared from ?buffy
coat?. Methods. The examination included 80 platelet concentrates prepared
from ?buffy coat?, which was separated from whole blood donated by voluntary
blood donors around 6 hours from the moment of collection. Concentrates were
pooled, filtered and separated unton two groups: one consisted of 10 control
units and the other of 10 examined units (pooled platelet concentrates).
Examined units of the platelets were treated by riboflavin (35 mL) and UV
rays (6.24 J/mL, 265-370 nm) on Mirasol aparature (Caridian BCT
Biotechnologies, USA) in approximate duration of 6 min. A total of 35 mL of
saline solution was added to the control units. The samples for examining
were taken from the control and examined units initially (K0, I0), after the
addition of saline (K1) and riboflavin (I1), after illumination (I2), first
day of storage (K3, I3) and the fifth day of storage (K4, I4). The following
parameters were measured: platelet count and platelet yield, residual
erythrocyte and leukocyte count, pH, pO2, pCO2 and bacterial contamination.
Results. All the measured parameters showed a statistically significant
decrease comparing to K0 and I0; all the results of the first day of platelet
storage showed statistically significant decrease comparing to K1 and I1, and
all the results of the fifth day of platelet storage (K4, I4) showed a
statistically significant decrease comparing to K1 and K3 and to I1 and I3.
There was no the mentioned difference in the measured parameters between K4
and I4 (the end of storage - the fifth day). All the platelet units were
sterile till the seventh day, when the investigation ended. Conclusion.
Platelet concentrates inactivated by riboflavin and UV rays (Mirasol PRT
sistem, Caridian BCT, USA) keep all the characteristics assessed by the Guide
to the preparation, use and quality assurance of blood components (Council of
Europe), during the whole storage period (five days). The obtained data were
correlated with existing up to date literature and demonstrated that Mirasol
treated platelets were safe and could be incorporated effectively in the
routine blood bank and transfusion setting.
Effects of use of riboflavin and ultraviolet light for pathogen inactivation on quality of platelet concentrates