A quick and efficient way to pool platelets.

An easy and efficient method for pooling multiple platelet concentrates is presented. By adaption of a laboratory vacuum system, the process of pooling platelet units was significantly shortened without platelet loss. In our laboratory time study, the use of this pooling system resulted in time savings of 27.5 percent and 35.9 percent during pooling of four-unit and six-unit platelet packs, respectively. Platelet loss by the vacuum method was not distinguishable from that of the hand method (p = 0.4 by two-sample t test).