Scansysten™ enables rapid and sensitive bacterial detection in platelets stored in additive solution with implementation of standard positive control capsules

It has been estimated that as many as 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 3,000 units of platelet concentrates (PCs) are bacterially contaminated. In this study we evaluated the new Scansystem bacterial detection method for pool PCs stored in additive solution (T-Sol (R)). At specific times during incubation, PCs spiked with a range of bacteria were analyzed by the Scansystem. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes were reliably detected when sample volumes were taken 24 h post inoculation. Of the bacteria used for the spiking study, only Propionibacterium acnes was not detected by the Scansystem method during the whole incubation period of 36 h. In summary, Scansystem was able to detect 6 transfusion-relevant bacteria species in PCs stored in additive solution. Two major benefits of Scansystem were found: First, the results are obtained within 70 min, and second, standardized and lyophilised positive control capsules are provided for daily validation of the testing procedure. However, analytical sensitivity of the method might be slightly reduced when applied on platelets stored in additive solution T-Sol as compared to platelets stored in 100% plasma.