Discuss the ways of platelets storage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discuss the ways of platelets storage - Essay Example The first and foremost step after the collection for separating platelets is to screen the blood for bacteria as well for other diseases which include hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV (Kaufman 2006). Also another step before the separation of platelets is to actually make all the preparations before the blood is drawn from the donor. This includes making all the necessary preparations so that the withdrawal procedure is made sterile from the point of blood drawing till the point of infusion to the patient (Tullis et al 1959). The blood is drawn from the patient in a container which contains ACD solution added to it. It is also ensured that blood is drawn in a clean method with no requirement for giving a second puncture as this is an important protocol of platelet collection that blood should be drawn from one puncture. This blood is circulated through a tube of plastic which is maintained at a temperature of 4 degrees centigrade. The blood flows in this chamber and the residue that is left flows into a separate pool and this residue is basically the plasma which is devoid of red and white blood cells and contain only platelets. This platelet containing plasma is then passed through another chamber such that 10 ml of the fluid flows in every one minute. The platelets flow into a collector where they are maintained at 250 x gravity.