Thrombocytopenia (platelet count lower than 150 3 109/L) is one of the most frequent hematological issues in the newborn, especially in the premature infant. The aim of this work is to perform a review of transfusion practice and the types of preparations available for the newborn platelet transfusion.

There are three different methods to obtain platelets for transfusion. Until the year 2007 they were obtained from platelet rich plasma of whole blood. Nowadays they are produced from whole blood as well, but mixing the buffy coats of four or five donors (APC). The other method used is of the platelets concentrations by platelets can also be apheresis (PCB).

In terms of effectiveness, platelet concentrates APC and PCB offer a similar number of platelets, even higher in APC. Comparative studies have shown therapeutical equivalence in terms of post transfusion platelet increase and hemostatic effects.

From an infectious point of view, security in transfusion medicine is quite high nowadays. What is more, both products are leukocyte depleted, and there are no significative differen­ces in the capacity to induce HLA alloimmunization. On the other hand, storing enough PCB concentrates for all the blood groups in pediatrics would imply high losses due to short expiration dates. We can conclude that APC platelet concentrates are the most adequate for our neonates. PCB would be the first option only in patients with refractory thrombocytopenia associated with HLA alloimmunization.