Use of red blood cells stored in saline suspension for immediate spin crossmatch

The purpose of this study was to validate a procedure for using red blood cell suspensions stored for up to 10 days in an immediate spin crossmatch. Ten group A and 10 group B SAG-M donor unit segments were opened on day 0. The red cells were divided into 2 tubes and each diluted with saline to a 3% to 5% cell suspension. The cell suspensions were tested using a standard immediate spin technique against pooled group A, group B, and group O plasma each day for 10 days. One set of cells was stored refrigerated as a 3% to 5% cell suspension. Saline was removed from the parallel set of cells before storage. All 480 tests that were expected to be negative were negative. On 2 separate occasions 1+ or 2+ reactions that disappeared before the cell button was completely resuspended were noted. All 960 tests that were expected to be positive were positive. All but 4 results were graded as 3+ or 4+. Four 2+ reactions occurred with 2 units that were typed as A1 negative. Our results indicate that cells stored refrigerated in normal saline as a 3% to 5% cell suspension may be used for immediate spin crossmatch for up to 10 days.