FDA grants South Texas Blood & Tissue Center first license for new process that triples shelf life of critically needed platelets

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center (STBTC) a license to use a new process shown to almost triple the current five-day shelf life of platelets.

Platelets are a key blood component constantly in demand for treating trauma, severely bleeding patients and maternal hemorrhage, which is a special challenge for rural hospitals. There also is a growing need for platelets for use in cancer treatment, transplant surgeries and other medical conditions.