Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
Enumeration of Major Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Populations for Multicenter Clinical Trials Using a Whole Blood Phenotyping Assay
Published on: September 16, 2012
Red cell concentrate storage and transport temperature
V Hancock1, R Cardigan, S Thomas
1Component Development Laboratory, NHS Blood and Transplant, Brentwood, Essex, UK. vicky.hancock@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Background And Objectives:
This study investigated the current U.K. guidelines for storage and transport of red cell concentrates (RCC) in saline, adenine, glucose and mannitol (SAGM). The guidelines stipulate storage at 2-6 °C but allow exposure to between 1-10 °C core temperature in a single occurrence of less than 5 h and a surface temperature of 2-10 °C for no more than 12 h during transportation.
Methods And Materials:
Twenty RCC units in SAGM were selected on the day of blood collection (day 0) and in vitro quality was tested pre- and post-temperature deviation at 10 °C and up to day 42 of storage. Each group of 10 RCC units was incubated for either 12 h or for both 5 and 12 h.
Results:
Haemolysis was below the 0·8% U.K. limit at day 42 in all units, although there was an unexpected trend towards lower haemolysis in packs incubated for 5 and 12 h rather than just 12 h alone. Supernatant potassium was significantly higher than reference data on day 35 (P < 0·05) with a maximum of 58 mmol L(-1) and day 42 (P < 0·001). All units incubated at 10 °C had comparable levels of adenosine triphosphate and, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to reference data from previous studies, throughout storage.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that exposure to 10 °C for 12 h or for 5 and 12 h did not adversely affect in vitro red cell quality for the remainder of the components shelf life.
