Use of a Microbiology Panel for Screening Pooled Random Platelets: 10 Years of Data

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Use of a Microbiology Panel for Screening Pooled
Random Platelets 10 Years of Data

• Presented by J. Wade Atkins, MS, MT (ASCP) SBB
• For Linda Sieple and Jeff Sieple, Washington
  County Health System

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Platelet Sterility Verification Washington
County Hospital is a 300-bed Level III trauma
center located in Hagerstown, MD. In 1994, the
Transfusion Services Department implemented a
policy for platelet sterility verification on all
platelets that were 4 or 5 days old. In light
of the new AABB standard in effect March 4, 2004
all pooled random donor platelets will be
gram-stained.
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The following testing in performed on pooled
platelets

• STAT gram stain
• Acridine orange stain
• Culture- Thio broth and chocolate agar
• PLATELETS ARE NOT ISSUED FOR TRANSFUSION UNTIL
  STAT GRAM STAIN IS PERFOMED AND RESULTED.

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Data compiled for 1998-2003

• 6054 random donor platelets transfused
• Average pool size at WCH is 6
• Approximately 1009 platelet pools tested
• Seven Positive Cultures

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Culture Results

• Four coagulase-negative staphylococcus organisms
  were identified by CULTURE ONLY and determined to
  be laboratory contaminants. Final identification
  was Staphylococcus epidermidis.
• Three cases of TRUE bacterial contamination of
  the pooled platelet products were identified.
  Two were identified as Staphylococcus
  epidermidis. The other was identified as
  Staphylococcus warneri.

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THE TRUE CONTAMINANTS WERE ALL EVIDENT ON INITIAL
GRAM STAIN and confirmed by acridine orange and
subsequent culture. The individual platelets
that comprised the pool were then tested to
determine which ones were contaminated. All
cases of bacterial contamination were reported to
the blood supplier for investigation.
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Contact Information
Linda J. Seiple MBA, MT(ASCP)BB Technical
Specialist Transfusion Services Washington County
Hospital 251 E. Antietam St. Hagerstown, MD
21740 seiplel_at_wchsys.org [phone]
Jeffery S. Seiple MBA, MT(ASCP)SM Assistant
Director, Clinical Hagerstown Medical
Laboratory 11110 Medical Campus Road Hagerstown,
MD 21740 seiplej_at_wchsys.org [phone]
Chris J. Dempsher, MD Medical Director Transfusion
Services Washington County Hospital Hagerstown,
MD 21740 dempsherc_at_wchsys.org [phone]