Italian Platelet Technology Assessment Study

When patient's platelet count, done in early morning every day, falls below 10000/microliter, physician in charge issues a platelet transfusion request to transfusion service. Transfusion service (which knows patient treatment arm) issues a PRT product or a standard product as indicated, typically within hours of request receipt; patient's physician identifies unit code and intended recipient's code and determines vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, body temp). Transfusion is started and completed in 30 min. Adverse reactions are monitored by ward personnel and once a day IPTAS local coordinator visits the ward, checks IPTAS patients' records, fills IPTAS forms, examines and interviews each enrolled patient and transfers filled forms to data coordinating center in Milan.