Utah Allocates Funds for ARC to Pilot Cold-Stored Platelets

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently allocated federal funds from the Hospital Preparedness Program to the American Red Cross (ARC) to buy five refrigeration systems to store Food and Drug Administration-approved cold-stored platelets, extending their shelf life from 5 to 14 days.

According to ARC, the installation of these systems earlier this month has significantly increased platelet production at the organization’s Salt Lake City lab, enabling the production of 120 to 140 platelet transfusions per day compared to the previous capacity of 36 daily transfusions. The Red Cross Salt Lake laboratory is one of three ARC locations in the country piloting the cold-store platelet program.

“This donation is a big step forward for the state’s preparedness efforts and support for rural communities,” said Tracy S. Gruber, DHHS executive director. “By investing in essential equipment, we ensure that Utah remains at the forefront of medical care for our citizens.”