High platelet content can increase storage lesion rates following Intercept pathogen inactivation primarily in platelet concentrates prepared by apheresis

Background Pathogen inactivation methods for platelet concentrates are increasingly being used in blood banks worldwide. In vitro studies have demonstrated its effects on storage lesion, but little routine quality control data on blood banking outcomes have been reported. Materials and Methods Swirling of distributed products was monitored before and after implementation of Intercept pathogen inactivation. Metabolic parameters pH, glucose and lactic acid were determined in a random cohort of expired pathogen‐inactivated products. Storage lesion indicators in apheresis concentrates with premature low swirling were compared to concentrates with normal swirling. Results During validation for implementing Intercept pathogen inactivation, pH and glucose levels decreased faster in apheresis platelet concentrates with high platelet content than with low platelet content or than in pathogen‐inactivated pooled buffy coat‐derived products. In routine products, glucose exhaustion was more often found in apheresis compared to buffy coat‐derived platelet concentrates despite 3–7% more plasma carryover in the former. Annual incidence of premature low swirling increased significantly by 50% following implementation of pathogen inactivation implementation for apheresis but not for pooled buffy coat platelet concentrates. In addition, apheresis concentrates with premature low swirling had a significantly higher median platelet count (5·0 × 1011) than unaffected products (3·5 × 1011). Conclusion The risk of increased storage lesion rates following Intercept pathogen inactivation is higher for apheresis than for buffy coat‐derived platelet concentrates, especially when platelet contents are higher than 5·0 × 1011.