A ground-breaking research project has proven blood platelets can be frozen for up to two years and still be effective in saving lives on the battlefield.

When blood is donated it is separated into red blood cells, plasma and platelets. A patient who has lost a lot of blood can be transfused platelets to stop the bleeding and save their life.

Professor of Military Medicine and Surgery at The University of Queensland, Army Reserve Brigadier Michael Reade, has been leading the research in partnership with The University of Queensland, Monash University and Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.  

“This research extends the shelf life of the product from seven days to two years, making it more readily available, particularly in remote and harsh environments,” Brigadier Reade said.

“During combat operations, military field hospitals can now rely on cryopreserved platelet transfusions to control severe bleeding in trauma patients.

“Defence investment in blood operational capability has generated benefit for the entire Australian population, particularly those living in rural and remote areas. These trial results will facilitate cryopreserved platelet availability in both military and civilian hospitals.”

The research findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and presented at the Critical Care Reviews conference in Melbourne.

'This study shows frozen platelets could be made available to rural or regional Australia, in smaller metropolitan hospitals and in military hospitals.'

The research compared platelets that had been frozen at -80C for up to two years to platelets after conventional seven-day liquid storage at 22C. Across 11 Australian hospitals, 388 cardiac surgery patients participated.

While the study showed the frozen platelets were about 13 per cent less effective, they were at least as safe as liquid-stored platelets. Most importantly, frozen platelets can be available when there is no alternative fresh supply.

Brigadier Reade first encountered frozen platelets while working as an anaesthetist at the Role 2E hospital in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, in 2009.

While seemingly safe and effective, at the time only the Dutch military had approved them for clinical use.

“This is the first large trial of frozen platelets worldwide. It will change practice not only in Australia, but globally,” Brigadier Reade said.

Lifeblood research program leader Associate Professor Denese Marks said the ability to store frozen platelets would make blood transfusions more accessible.

“These findings are underpinned by a decade of research by Lifeblood to ensure platelets are able to survive the harsh freezing and thawing process and remain effective for up to two years,” Professor Marks said.

“Platelets are really delicate, and they need special treatment to survive the freezing and thawing process.

“This study shows frozen platelets could be made available to rural or regional Australia, in smaller metropolitan hospitals and in military hospitals.”

The platelets for the trial were cryopreserved by researchers at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and donated by Australian volunteer blood donors.

The research was funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.