Marquette General Foundation

For You. For the U.P. For Life

Gifts at Work

New incubator in the U.P. Regional Blood Center
Philanthropic gift maintains optimum temperature for platelets

Diane Dodendorf-Rice, a registered nurse in the Upper Michigan Regional Blood Center, puts platelets on the rotator in the Incubator in the Donor House at Marquette General. The $7,500 Incubator was purchased with philanthropic gifts to the Marquette General Foundation. (MGH photo)

Platelets are a vital product in any blood center’s inventory. They’re necessary in the clotting process for bleeding patients or those with the potential to bleed.

“To help prevent bleeding or stop bleeding, platelets need to be functioning properly,” said Dana Langsford, Donor Services Supervisor. “Storage at the proper temperature is vital. This incubator makes that happen.”

The Food and Drug Administration, American Association of Blood Banks, and the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) all require that platelets be kept at a constant temperature of 20-24 degrees Celsius to maintain optimal platelet function.

Thanks to philanthropic gifts to the Marquette General Foundation, the Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center, based at Marquette General Hospital, now has a new Platelet Incubator that assures a constant 20-24 degrees Celsius temperature, resulting in optimal platelet function.

The Incubator, valued at $7,500, is a welcome addition to the blood center.
“With the extreme temperature variations we experience in the Upper Peninsula, it’s sometimes difficult to maintain that strict temperature in the building,” explained Langsford, adding the shelf life for platelets is only five days. “This incubator greatly assists us in providing the best possible product for our patients. We’re very thankful to the Marquette General Foundation for making this possible.”

Platelets are a vital component in transfusion therapy for bleeding patients in trauma situations, or those who have a very low platelet count with the potential to bleed, including cancer patients. According to Langsford, MGH has a dedicated donor base who are very willing to take the extra time to donate this important blood product.

For more information on funding opportunities available with the Marquette General Foundation, call 225-6914, toll-free at 1-866-906-6914 or email mgfoundation@mgh.org.