Which item has a shelf life of 5 days at 20C-24C with constant agitation?

• A. CPDA-1 preserved red blood cells
• B. ADSOL preserved red blood cells
• C. Fresh frozen plasma
• D. Platelet concentrates

Answer: (D)

Platelet concentrates are stored at room temperature (20–24°C) with constant gentle agitation. This setup keeps platelets in a functioning state similar to how they circulate, but room temperature also accelerates bacterial growth, so the shelf life is limited to about 5 days. The other components are stored differently and have longer shelf lives: red cells preserved with CPDA-1 or ADSOL are kept at 1–6°C, with shelf lives of roughly 35–42 days; fresh frozen plasma is stored frozen and has a long shelf life, with thawed plasma used within a few days and not kept at room temperature with agitation. So the 5-day, room-temperature with agitation condition specifically matches platelet concentrates.