Refrigerated platelets stored for up to 21 days were as effective at controlling bleeding as room-temperature platelets stored for up to seven days, a change that could triple or quadruple the usable U.S. platelet supply, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine-led trial published Aug. 17 in JAMA.
- About 2.5 million room-temperature platelet units are collected in the U.S. each year, and 10% to 20% are wasted because of their short shelf life, costing hospitals $300 million annually.
- The Chilled Platelet Study enrolled 1,000 pediatric and adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery at 27 sites in the U.S. and Australia from December 2021 to March 2025. Researchers gradually extended the storage time for refrigerated platelets as safety data became available.
- Refrigerated platelets could extend their usable shelf life nearly fourfold once processing time is factored in, potentially making it financially viable for rural and community hospitals to keep platelets on hand.
- About 15% of hospitals experience at least one delayed platelet transfusion in a given month because of supply shortages.
- Roughly one-third of trial participants were children, a deliberate design choice because pediatric cardiac surgery patients are among the most frequent recipients of platelets.
The findings are under review by the FDA and regulators in several other countries as they consider revising rules for the use of refrigerated platelets in actively bleeding patients.
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