The Effect of Incubation and Storage on Human Platelet Structure as Studied by Electron Microscopy

The electron microscopic appearance of platelets incubated at 37 C. and stored at 4 C. are described, and the relationship of these changes to normal platelet structure are discussed together with the hypothesis that the observation may be due to lysosome activity of some of the platelet granules.

The platelet’s ATP level during incubation and storage was also followed and it was concluded that this relates more to the platelet’s ability to sustain clot retraction than to its viability.