In vitro parameters of cryopreserved leucodepleted and non-leucodepleted red blood cells collected by apheresis or from whole blood and stored in AS-3 for 21 days after thawing.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the in vitro quality of cryopreserved red blood cells obtained from different sources with or without leucodepletion and stored at 4±2 °C in AS-3 for up to 21 days. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Red blood cells were collected by four methods: double erythrocytapheresis, whole blood collection with buffy coat removal, double erythrocytapheresis with in-line leucofiltration, or whole blood collection with in-line leucofiltration. All four types of red blood cells were frozen in 40% glycerol after collection and stored at a temperature below -65 °C for at least 30 days, thawed, deglycerolised and subsequently reconstituted in AS-3. The in vitro haematological and biochemical properties of the thawed red blood cells were tested on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 after deglycerolisation and reconstitution. RESULTS: Overall, 72 units were processed. Leucodepletion of cryopreserved red blood cells units reduced haemolysis, lowered ammonia concentration, preserved pH and osmolality and led to sustained higher concentrations of ATP. In contrast, the source of red blood cells (apheresis or whole blood) did not affect their quality. DISCUSSION: The quality of all investigated red blood cells units was the same as or even better than that of erythrocytes obtained from double erythrocytapheresis with a 24-hour survival of at least 86% after up to 3 weeks of storage in AS-3.

Quality evaluation of frozen apheresis red blood cell storage with 21-day postthaw storage in additive solution 3 and saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol: biochemical and chromium-51 recovery measures.

BACKGROUND: The Czech Republic decided to build the frozen red blood cell (RBC) bank for military contingency and civil emergency preparedness. Storage methods were validated with (51)Cr recovery measures out to 21 days postthaw. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 139 apheresis RBC units collected in additive solution (additive solution 3 [AS-3] or saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol [SAG-M]) were obtained from volunteers by double erythrocytapheresis; all were sterilely glycerolized, frozen, stored for at least 30 days at a minimum of -65 degrees C in collection or cryogenic bags, thawed, sterilely deglycerolized, and stored at 4 +/- 2 degrees C for up to 21 days in AS-3 or SAG-M. Units were sampled before storage and after thaw weekly. Metabolic intermediates and (51)Cr recovery measures were obtained to determine the index of therapeutic effectiveness (ITE). RESULTS: Despite losses associated with cryoconservation and eventual transfer to cryogenic bags, 3-week storage with optimum ITE was obtained with frozen storage in primary collection or cryogenic bags and postthaw storage in AS-3. Such cells would pass as acceptable in vitro hematology and biochemistry variables. CONCLUSIONS: A system for frozen RBC storage with 3-week, postthaw, liquid storage has been validated. With commercially available components and automated processing, it is capable of supporting civilian rare blood and emergency and international military combat and peacekeeping support use patterns.