Glycerol‐glucose cryopreservation of platelets

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Abstract
Extended storage of platelets can be achieved by cryopreservation. However, most cryopreservation techniques require extensive manipulation prior to administration, limiting their practicality. A simple cryopreservative system using glycerol and glucose as cryoprotectants would eliminate the need to wash the platelets after freezing, since neither of these agents is toxic. We evaluated such a system in vivo and compared the results to 72-hour liquid-stored platelets. The percentage of in vivo recovery was significantly less (p less than 0.01) for cryopreserved (21.1 +/- 3.4% [chi +/- 1 SD]) than liquid-stored (43.8 +/- 7.4%) platelets, but those frozen-thawed cells that were viable had normal survivals (8.4 +/- 1.7 days). Liquid-stored cell appeared to be less viable (5.9 +/- 1.8 days). These results indicate that cryopreservation with the glycerol-glucose system produces significant injury to the majority of platelets and therefore, is inadequate for general blood bank use.