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Published on: January 2, 2013
Buffering and dilution in red blood cell storage
1Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. jhess@umm.edu
Background:
Red blood cell (RBC) storage solutions work in a narrow pH range between 7.2 and 6.4. While keeping RBC within that pH range, ATP production can be increased by buffering or dilution.
Study Design And Methods:
In the first study, 12 units of packed CP2D RBCs were pooled in groups of four, re-aliquoted, and added to one of four additive solutions (ASs): AS-3, 110 mL; EAS-61, 170 mL; EAS-78, 170 mL; or EAS-81, 110 mL. EAS-78 and -81 contain bicarbonate. Units were sampled approximately weekly for 10 weeks for biochemical measures. In the second study, 12 volunteers donated RBCs for measures of (51)Cr in vivo recovery after 6 or 8 weeks of storage in EAS-81.
Results:
RBCs stored in the higher-volume or buffered ASs had higher RBC ATP concentrations. The combination had an additive effect. Hemolysis was reduced in dilute ASs and less so with buffering. RBCs stored for 8 weeks (n=6) in EAS-81 exhibited 87+/- 2 percent 24-hour (51)Cr in vivo recovery and 0.4+/- 0.2 percent hemolysis.
Conclusions:
It is possible to store RBCs for 8 weeks in buffered conventional volume ASs. Combining buffering and increased AS volume improves stored RBC characteristics further.
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