Evaluation of morphological changes in platelets during storage of platelet concentrates
Authors:
Š. Jakůbková 1; B. Heczková 2; P. Matoušek 3; V. Jenčová 4; C. Andrýs 5; T. Suchý 6; M. Šlouf 7; R. Procházková 1,8
Authors‘ workplace:
Transfuzní oddělení, Krajská nemocnice Liberec, a. s.
1; Oddělení klinické hematologie, Krajská nemocnice Liberec, a. s.
2; Oddělení klinické biochemie, Krajská nemocnice Liberec, a. s.
3; Fakulta přírodovědně-humanitní a pedagogická, Technická univerzita v Liberci
4; ÚKIA FN Hradec Králové
5; Ústav struktury a mechaniky hornin AV ČR, v. v. i., Praha
6; Ústav makromolekulární chemie AV ČR, Praha
7; Fakulta zdravotnických studií, Technická univerzita v Liberci
8
Published in:
Transfuze Hematol. dnes,32, 2026, No. 3, p. 212-221.
Category:
Original Papers
doi:
https://doi.org/10.48095/cctahd202617
Overview
Introduction: During production and storage, platelets undergo morphological and metabolic changes that limit their shelf life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of assessing the quality of platelets during storage by microscopic evaluation of their morphological changes using the Kunicki score. Material and method: We evaluated platelet morphology on days 1, 3 and 7 of storage in 20 samples of buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates in additive solution, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and calculated the morphological score. We compared these results with platelet concentrates quality parameters (platelet count, MPV), markers of platelet cellular damage (pH, glucose and lactate levels), markers of platelet activation (sP-selectin) and platelet function tests (aggregometry). Spearman’s correlation coefficient (r) was used to assess the correlation between morphological scores and other parameters. Non-parametric methods were used for the evaluation and statistical significance was assessed at the level of P < 0.05. Results: The calculated score showed a decreasing trend during storage, corresponding to morphological changes towards activated platelet forms (day 1 : 273.3 ± 39.4; day 3 : 175.8 ± 16.8; day 7 : 153.3 ± 16.4). Glucose (r = 0.7696; P <0.0001), lactate (r = –0.7881; P < 0.0001) and sP-selectin (r = –0.7537; P < 0.0001) concentrations correlated significantly with morphological evaluation. Statistically significant correlations were also found for platelet count (r = 0.4348; P = 0.0009), MPV (r = –0.2594; P = 0.0493), and aggregation with arachidonic acid induction (r = –0.4917; P <0.0001) and collagen induction (r = 0.4612; P = 0.0003). No correlation was found between morphological score and pH (r = 0.1528; P = 0.2521). Conclusion: Morphological evaluation using the Kunicki score can be used to assess platelet quality during storage, for example in the validation of new manufacturing processes. Given the complexity of this methodology and the requirement for special equipment, it is more appropriate to use strongly correlated parameters, which include the determination of glucose, lactate, and sP-selectin concentrations and are significantly more affordable.
Keywords:
quality control – Microscopy – morphology – platelet concentrate
Sources
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