ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Red cells frozen using 40% W/V glycerol are currently FDA approved for frozen storage at -80 degrees C for up to 10 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Red cells frozen with 40% W/V glycerol and stored at -80 degrees C for up to 37 years were thawed, deglycerolized, and stored at 4 degrees C for 24 h. RESULTS: Red cells frozen for up to 37 years had mean freeze-thaw-wash recovery values of 75%, less than 1% hemolysis, and normal ATP, 2,3-DPG and P50 levels, and 60% of normal RBC K(+) levels. CONCLUSIONS: Red cells frozen with 40% W/V glycerol can be stored at -80 degrees C for up to 37 years with acceptable in vitro results.
Subject(s)
Blood Preservation/methods , Cryopreservation/methods , Cryoprotective Agents/pharmacology , Erythrocytes , Glycerol/pharmacology , 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate/blood , Adenosine Triphosphate/blood , Anticoagulants/pharmacology , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Blood/microbiology , Blood Preservation/standards , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cryopreservation/standards , Erythrocytes/cytology , Erythrocytes/drug effects , Hemoglobins/analysis , Humans , Oxygen/blood , Potassium/blood , Sodium/blood , Solutions/pharmacology , Temperature , Time Factors , United States , United States Food and Drug AdministrationABSTRACT
Human red cells frozen by various methods have been stored in the frozen state at -80 degrees C for as long as 21 years. This report discusses: red cells frozen with 42 percent weight per volume (wt/vol) glycerol in an ionic medium in a polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic bag using the Cohn method; red cells frozen with 45 percent wt/vol glycerol in a low ionic medium in a PVC plastic bag using the Huggins method; red cells frozen with 40 percent wt/vol glycerol in an ionic medium in a polyolefin plastic bag using the Meryman-Hornblower method; and red cells frozen with 40 percent wt/vol glycerol in an ionic medium in a standard 600-ml or an elongated 800-ml PVC plastic primary collection bag with an adapter port using the Naval Blood Research Laboratory (NBRL) method. After frozen storage for as long as 21 years by the four methods described above, the thawed red cells were deglycerolized with 50 to 150 ml of 12 percent sodium chloride and 1.5 to 2.0 l of sodium chloride-glucose or sodium chloride-glucose-phosphate solution. After washing and storage at 4 degrees C for 24 hour, the red cells had a mean freeze-thaw-wash recovery value of 90 percent, a mean 24-hour posttransfusion survival value of 85 percent, a mean index of therapeutic effectiveness of 75 percent, normal or slightly impaired oxygen transport function, and minimal hemolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
