Blood storage affects the detection of cellular prion protein on peripheral blood leukocytes and circulating dendritic cells in part by promoting platelet satellitism

► We evaluated the effect of pre-analytical variables on PrPC detection in blood. ► Citrate anticoagulation of blood results in a lower detection of PrPC on monocytes. ► The storage of blood leads to a decrease of PrPC detection on most leukocytes. ► Platelet satellitism affects PrPC levels detected on many leukocyte populations. ► Flow cytometry detection of PrPC is sensitive to storage-generated artifacts.