As evidence-based medicine assumes increasing importance, there is a need for high-quality reporting of clinical studies. Critical analysis of published medical literature is the cornerstone to practicing evidence-based medicine. Although randomized controlled trials (RCT) are the gold standard of study design; logistical, financial and ethical constraints make RCTs difficult to accomplish; hence, observational study designs are frequently used. This session will provide an overview for critiquing published studies, using published platelet transfusion studies as examples. Reporting of platelet transfusion studies will be reviewed, outlining the strengths and weaknesses. The Delphi methodology will be described as well as its application by the BEST Collaborative to create of a platelet study reporting tool. This tool is designed to improve the quality of study design and reporting for platelet transfusion research.