Asim Alam: Could Longer Shelf Life Reduce Platelet Waste?
Asim Alam, Medical Director of Utilization and Medical Services, Hospital Liaison Relations at Canadian Blood Services, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“The platelet problem isn’t just supply. It’s shelf life.
Conventional platelets last just 5–7 days. Cold-stored platelets could fundamentally change how we manage inventory.
At AABB 2026, the CHIPS phase 3 trial by Phil Spinella et al. demonstrated noninferior hemostatic efficacy with cold-stored platelets stored for up to 21 days in cardiac surgery patients, although some secondary outcomes warrant further attention.
But the operational results are particularly compelling:
- Intermountain Health: Platelet wastage declined from 19.4% to 11.7%.
- Vitalant pilot: One hospital reduced monthly platelet outdates by an estimated 60% after redesigning its inventory model.
The interesting finding? Simply introducing cold-stored platelets without changing inventory practices did not consistently reduce wastage.
Innovation isn’t just about developing better products. It’s about redesigning the systems that use them.
Could cold-stored platelets fundamentally change how hospitals and blood suppliers manage inventory, particularly in smaller and remote centres?
An interesting ‘AABB review of the clinical evidence and implementation experience’.”
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