BLOOD CENTER PERSPECTIVE - DEFINING THE IDEAL PLATELET CONCENTRATE

During the past two decades, an increased demand for platelets has challenged blood collection centers to produce a safe and readily available supply. Defining the ideal platelet for transfusion is a process that cannot be decided by a single entity. Collection centers are only one member of a partnership which involves the donor, transfusion service, hospital administration, clinicians, and patients. Regulatory definitions exist to help guide collection centers to the minimum acceptable criteria for the production of platelets, but in reality, the standard by which clinicians judge the efficacy of the product is most important. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.