Blood Bank

Preferred Sample Type

Issuing Platelets

Suitable Specimen Types

EDTA Whole Blood

Issuing Platelets

Specimen Volume

4mL

Specimen Transport

Standard transport to laboratory.

Sample Preparation

Please refer to the trust guidelines on sample collection and labelling.

Sample Processing In Laboratory

Sample should be centrifuged

Sample Stability

Up to 7 days depending on patients transfusion history.

General Information

In Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), platelet transfusions must be avoided because they can worsen the condition by fuelling clot formation.

Irradiated platelets should be given to the following group of patients:


• If a recipient is an immuno-compromised haem-oncology patient
• Hodgkin’s Disease
• Patients being treated with Purine analogues (Fludarabine, Cladribine+ deoxycoformycin)
• All allogeneic and autologous BMT (time-dependant respectively)
• All inter-uterine transfusions, as well as subsequent exchange or ‘top-up’
• All granulocyte transfusions
• If recipient has a congenital immunodeficiency state (especially cell-mediated)
• Patients receiving transfusions from HLA donors.
• Autologous haemopoietic stem cell graft

Notes

Platelets are required when patients have a low platelet count and there is a risk of bleeding. Platelets need to be ordered according to the MSBOS (Maximum surgical blood ordering schedule)

Platelet transfusions may be used prophylactically to prevent bleeding or therapeutically to stop haemorrhage. Patients may require platelet transfusions in the following circumstances:
• Platelet count <10x109/L
• As part of the Major haemorrhage procedure
• Bone marrow failure
• Sepsis and Platelet count <20x109/L
• Bleeding and Platelet count <50x109/L
• Critical site bleeding or surgery (Central nervous system, brain, eyes) and Platelet count <100x109/L
• Line insertion/ removal and Platelet count <20x109/L
• Lumbar puncture and Platelet count <40x109/L
• Epidural or spinal anaesthesia and Platelet count <80x109/L
• Surgical procedure – non critical site and Platelet count <50x109/L
• DIC

Creation Date

Friday, 28 November 2025

Modification Date

Friday, 28 November 2025

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Copyright UHB Pathology 2025

Protection of Personal Information – Pathology Laboratories Services comply with the Trust Data Protection Policy and have procedures in place to allow the Directorate and it’s employees to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and associated best practice and guidance.

The laboratories at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital form part of the services provided by University Hospitals Birmingham and are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2022 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/ 

  • Molecular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8759
  • Biochemistry is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8910
  • Haematology and Transfusion is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8784
  • Clinical Microbiology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 8760
  • Cellular Pathology is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No. 10141
  • United Kingdom Health Security Agency laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.8213

Tests not appearing on the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.

For further test information, please visit the test database: https://qehbpathology.uk/test-database 

For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 371 5962/ 0121 424 1235