Platelet production in apheresis donors, Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reticulated platelet release and mass spectrometry analysis of plasma proteins after apheresis platelet donation by established and new donors
IRAS ID
154349
Contact name
R&D Office
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Blood and Transplant
Research summary
When platelet donors donate their platelets for transfusion to patients, they lose about 30% of their blood platelets. Although the drop in platelet count in donors is perfectly safe, it is unclear how quickly their platelet count recovers to baseline levels and whether the recovery is driven by a “reserve pool” of platelets in the spleen and/or the release of new platelets by the bone marrow. It is also not known what chemicals (growth factors) in the blood stream drive the platelet recovery after donation. Twenty platelet donors who regularly donate at the Cambridge Blood Centre will be recruited and consented to give extra blood samples on the day of donation and on a further 5 occasions in the following two weeks. These samples will be collected at the donor’s home, workplace or the Blood Centre according to the donor’s preference. From these samples we will get accurate platelet counts to ascertain recovery post-donation and we will analyse the protein content in the plasma to identify potential chemicals that are driving the platelet recovery. The knowledge of such “platelet” growth factors would be highly relevant for the treatment of patients with low platelet counts. We will also recruit 10 platelet donors who will give platelet for the first time to ascertain whether they are different from donors who give regularly in terms of platelet recovery time and chemicals in their bloodstream.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/0194
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion