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Acceptability of lipemic apheresis platelets for transfusion 

A Quality Assurance Coordinator at a transfusion service in Virginia wonders whether or not lipemic apheresis platelet units should be accepted by transfusion services. Many hospitals in his area use detection of swirling as part of their 'bacterial detection' criteria. Since lipemia interferes with the interpretation of swirling they do not accept grossly lipemic units. He wonders whether it is standard practice to accept lipemic apheresis platelets in other regions.

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Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator
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Posted: September 23, 2004

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