ABSTRACT
The objective of the present study was designed to evaluate lyophilized red blood cells of the ultrastructure. Blood was drawn from healthy adult. In group 1, sample was fresh blood; in group 2, sample was added 35% glycerine, stored at -80 degrees C for 24 hours; in group 3, red blood cells stored at 4 degrees C for 5 hours, then were lyophilized for 16 hour. The sample was resuspended for measurements of count and electron microscopy study. The result showed that lyophilized red blood cells possessed relative integrated structure, red blood cell recovery was 53%. The mean diameter, optical density and integral optical density of red blood cell were 4.7 +/- 0.4, 0.14 +/- 0.03 and 1.58 +/- 0.46 in group 1; 4.6 +/- 0.7, 0.14 +/- 0.02 and 2.35 +/- 0.64 in group 2; 4.4 +/- 0.4, 0.17 +/- 0.05 and 2.35 +/- 0.46 in group 3, respectively. There was no significant difference in lyophilized and frozen group, but there was significant difference in lyophilized group and normal group. In conclusion, human red blood cells could be successfully lyophilized and possess relative integrated structure. The mean diameter, optical density and integral optical density of lyophilized red blood cells were similar to that of cryopreservation red cells.