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Enumeration of Major Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Populations for Multicenter Clinical Trials Using a Whole Blood Phenotyping Assay
Published on: September 16, 2012
Refrigerated storage of washed red cells
H T Meryman1, M Hornblower, T Keegan
1Jerome Holland Laboratory for the Biomedical Sciences, American Red Cross, Rockville, Md.
Vox Sanguinis
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Washing and storing red blood cells in a citrate-phosphate-glucose-adenine solution preserves cell viability for over six weeks. This method enhances 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels and reduces hemolysis, ensuring comparable in vivo survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Hematology
- Biopreservation
Background:
- Maintaining red blood cell (RBC) viability during storage is critical for transfusion medicine.
- Current storage solutions face limitations in preserving RBC function and preventing hemolysis over extended periods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a citrate-phosphate-glucose-adenine (CPGA) solution for preserving washed red blood cells.
- To assess the impact of CPGA solution on key RBC metabolic parameters and in vivo survival.
Main Methods:
- Washing and storing RBCs in a CPGA solution at pH 7.4-7.6.
- Measuring adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) levels over six weeks.
- Assessing hemolysis and performing 24-hour in vivo survival studies.
Main Results:
- CPGA solution maintained excellent ATP levels and elevated 2,3-DPG significantly above normal.
- Reduced hemolysis and 24-hour in vivo survival comparable to ADSOL were observed.
- A chloride shift mechanism, increasing intracellular pH and glycolysis, was implicated.
Conclusions:
- CPGA solution provides superior preservation of red blood cells for over six weeks.
- Phosphate acts as a crucial buffer for maintaining intra- and extracellular pH.
- Reducing solution osmolality further enhances RBC morphology and reduces hemolysis.

