Expanding the platelet inventory to mitigate the impact of severe short ages

The platelet collection and distribution system, based on volunteer nonremunerated donors, apheresis platelet collec-tions, and primarily 1-directional distribution of platelets for up to 5-day room temperature storage at hospitals, typically per forms well and pro vi des ther a peu tic sup port for hun dreds of thou sands of patients annu ally. However, direct and indi rect effects of the coronavirus dis ease 2019 pan demic, par tic u larly dur ing the Omicron wave, pro duced dra matic sys temic fail ures and severe short ages. We pro pose 4 ini tia tives to rein force the existing plate let pipe line and buffer the platelet supply against future unexpected disruptions.