Pulsed xenon flash treatment inactivates bacteria in apheresis platelet concentrates while preserving in vitro quality and functionality

BACKGROUND: Pulsed xenon (Xe) flash without any photoreactive compounds has been shown to inactivate a type of bacteria spiked into platelet (PLT) suspension in plasma, but enhanced the PLT storage lesion (PSL). Predicting reduction of PSL with increasing bactericidal ability, pulsed Xe flash was filtered through a band-stop filter, which excluded ultraviolet (UV)A, UVB, and visible light. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Apheresis PLT concentrates (PCs) inoculated with bacteria were irradiated with filtered Xe flash (fXe treatment). For in vitro functional quality assessment, PLT aggregation and thrombin generation together with other assays that monitor the PSL were investigated. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus dysgalactiae could be inactivated without regrowth during 6 days of storage. PC variables, such as PLT count, concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand, and ratio of aggregated PLTs, were not significantly different between fXe-treated and untreated PCs after 6 days of storage, while PAC-1 binding increased in the fXe-treated PLTs. Responsiveness of fXe-treated PLTs to ADP was maintained over a 6-day storage period as shown by the up regulation of P-selectin expression and induction of both integrin αIIbβ3 conformational change and PLT aggregation. The fXe-treated PLTs showed a sustained aggregation curve in response to ADP, whereas untreated PLTs transiently aggregated and then subsequently dissociated. Thrombin-generating kinetics of fXe-treated PLTs via PLT membrane surface were equivalent to those of untreated PLTs. CONCLUSIONS: The fXe treatment inactivated bacteria in apheresis PCs in plasma without additional chemical compounds. The fXe-treated PCs retained acceptable in vitro properties of PC quality and PLT functionality.