pH, PCO2 and PO2 in "high-volume" platelet concentrates prepared by discontinuous-flow centrifugation and stored in polyvinylchloride and plyethylene containers.

High-volume (200 ml) platelet concentrates prepared by discontinuous-flow centrifugation, with counts as high as ca. 2.0 x 10(12)/l, were stored in either 600 ml-capacity polyvinylchloride bags or 800-ml capacity polyethylene bags. Both polyvinylchloride and polyethylene bags appeared adequate for 24-hour storage of platelet concentrates with counts greater than 0.5 x 10(12)/l. However, at 24 hours the platelet concentrates in polyvinylchloride bags showed a reduction in pH and an increase in PCO2 that were proportional to the platelet count. Only with storage in polyethylene bags did the pH and PCO2 of the platelet concentrates show little change for periods of as long as 120 hours.