Overview
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are very small cellular components of blood that are made in the bone marrow and survive in the circulatory system for an average of nine to 10 days. Considered a vital element of blood, platelets aid blood clotting by sticking to the lining of blood vessels, preventing possible day-to-day leakage as well as massive blood loss often associated with trauma. They are used to treat a condition called thrombocytopenia as well as for patients undergoing treatment for leukemia, cancer, aplastic anemia and marrow transplants, and can be collected either from donated whole blood or by plateletpheresis. Platelets can be stored for only five days, unless the establishment is using an FDA-approved protocol that allows for seven-day storage.
AABB works on behalf of the transfusion medicine and cellular therapy community to ensure the safe and effective collection, processing and use of platelets. That work involves direct interaction with federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to ensure appropriate guidance, regulations and reimbursement for platelets.
Recent Actions
11/22/10
AABB updates table in Association Bulletin #10-06.
10/4/10
AABB issues Association Bulletin #10-06 on platelet additive solutions.
8/12/10
FDA grants Fenwal a new 510(k) clearance for its Amicus blood cell separator. The new clearance involves the use of the Amicus separator with InterSol platelet additive solution, which Fenwal introduced earlier in the year.
5/3/10
AABB issues an interim standard that requires the use of enhanced bacteria detection methods. Interim Standard 5.1.5.1.1 calls for blood banks or transfusion services to have methods in place to detect bacteria in all platelet components that are either FDA-approved or validated to provide equivalent sensitivity. This standard takes effect Jan. 31, 2011.
Archived Actions