Platelet Quality: What is Important for the Blood Bank, the Hospital and the Patient?
Program Code: 9214-TC
Sunday, October 25, 2009
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (ET)

MODERATOR
Elisabeth Maurer-Spurej, PhD, LightIntegra Technology Inc

SPEAKERS
Elisabeth Maurer-Spurej, PhD, LightIntegra Technology Inc
Alan Tinmouth, MD, MSc, FRCPC, University of Ottawa Centre for Transfusion Research, Ottawa Health Research Institute and the Ottawa Hospital
James AuBuchon, MD, FCAP, FRCP (Edin), Puget Sound Blood Center

DESCRIPTION
The views of what constitutes good, effective and high- quality platelet products for transfusion vary considerably. This session will provide an overview of what blood bankers, clinicians and researchers consider important features of platelet quality, how these are currently determined and what platelet quality means for the patients. In a changing industry with increasing demands on product safety and supply, the quality of platelets after pathogen reduction and/or beyond 5 days of storage is becoming very important.