Between 2014 and 2018, microbial contamination of blood products was the third leading cause of transfusion-related fatality. Platelets are more likely than other blood products to become contaminated because they are stored at room temperature. In 2019, the FDA updated requirements for bacterial mitigation strategies, which will result in significant changes to how platelets are manufactured, explains Alexis Peedin, MD, FCAP, in this CAPcast interview. Dr. Peedin led the development of a CAP Clinical Pathology Improvement Program course on this topic (https://capatholo.gy/3wHYMwC).