Tracking and characterisation of transfused platelets by two colour, whole blood flow cytometry

We describe a flow cytometric technique to study transfused platelets in patients. By selecting donor/recipient pairs discrepant for HLA‐A2, transfused platelets were identified using anti‐HLA‐A2 with a detection limit of <5%, and accuracy within 4·3% of predicted (r2 > 0·96, P < 0·0001). In two of three episodes, transfused platelets were present in greater numbers than predicted from increment counts. Platelets with bound fibrinogen fell from 20·9 ± 23·6% of donor platelets pretransfusion to 1·7 ± 0·3% 1 h post‐transfusion, whereas P‐selectin‐positive platelets fell gradually, from 24·1 ± 6·7 to 7·3 ± 3·3% at 6 h. This method avoids radio or chemical labelling, and could be used to assess novel platelet preparations post‐transfusion.

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