Evaluation of Mirasol Pathogen Reduction Technology and its effects on platelet viability and plasma integrity in blood units

Bacterial contamination in blood components carries a fatal risk in blood transfusion. Despite efforts in preventing transfusion-transmitted bacterial infections, it remains associated with transfusion morbidity and mortality. This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mirasol Pathogen Reduction Technology (MPRT) in platelets and plasma in eliminating bacterial growth by inoculating platelet concentrates with a clinically significant load of Staphylococcus aureus to determine its effect on platelet count, pH, and coagulation factors such as plasma activated prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen. For the 10 pooled platelet concentrates samples, the observed mean pH value before MPRT treatment was 7.20, and 7.10, and 6.8 after treatment on both Day 3 and Day 7, respectively. For platelet count, the resulting mean was1296.6 x 103/ul which decreased to 1199 x 103/ul, 1120 x 103/ul, 879.4 x 103/ul on Day 0, Day 3, and Day 7, respectively after MPRT. Also, no aggregates of bacteria were seen on 9 platelet concentrates samples after MPRT. For PT and aPTT, the mean average values of 12.63 seconds and 33.46 seconds were observed after MPRT, while fibrinogen’s mean average value dropped to 1.45g/L and maintained stability at a frozen state with 1.56g/L after 30 days post storage after MPRT treatment. Therefore, MPRT can preserve platelet viability with 90% effectiveness in eliminating bacterial contamination in platelet concentrates, even when changes in pH and platelet count occur through storage. Moreover, plasma integrity can also be preserved with the use of MPRT. This extends the expiry of platelet concentrates from 5 days to 7 days, thus, minimizing the blood wastage yet increasing platelet inventory.