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Red cell freezing and its impact on the supply chain
1University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA. jhess@umm.edu
Transfusion Medicine (Oxford, England)
|March 27, 2004
Summary
Freezing red blood cells (RBC) allows long-term storage, but glycerol removal is required post-thaw. Despite historical attempts, frozen RBC use is limited by costs and logistical challenges.
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Cryobiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Red blood cells (RBCs) can be cryopreserved using glycerol for extended storage.
- Historically, frozen RBCs were explored for blood supply stability and emergency reserves.
Observation:
- Thawed RBCs require glycerol removal but demonstrate normal in vivo survival.
- Attempts to expand frozen RBC use in the 1960s-1970s were largely abandoned.
Findings:
- Key factors for abandoning frozen RBC use include high costs, inventory management, safety concerns, and losses from short shelf-life.
- New automated systems may extend thawed RBC shelf-life to two weeks but do not significantly reduce costs or losses.
Implications:
- Cryopreservation of RBCs has limited impact on overall blood supply logistics.
- The practical utility of frozen RBCs remains constrained by economic and operational factors despite technical feasibility.