Microbial contamination risk apheresis platelets

Record number: 
1127
MPHO Type: 
Alerting signals, symptoms, evidence of occurrence: 
Between March 1, 2004, and May 31, 2006, bacterial culture testing was performed on 1,004,206 donations; of these, 186 (1:5,399) had confirmed-positive culture results. Transfusion of all but 1 of the associated 293 components was prevented.
Demonstration of imputability or root cause: 
A confirmed -positive result was defined as the growth of the same organism in the initial and confirmatory sample.
Suggest references: 
Eder, A.F., Kennedy, J.M., Dy, B.A., Notari, E.P., Weiss, J.W., Fang, C.T., Wagner, S., Dodd, R.Y., Benjamin, R.J., and ARC Regional Blood Centers (2007). Bacterial screening of apheresis platelets and the residual risk of septic transfusion reactions: the American Red Cross experience (2004-2006).Transfusion 47(7):1134-42.