Flow properties of modified packed red cells

V A Lovric1, M Schuller, G Rose

  • 1New South Wales Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Sydney, Australia.

We investigated free gravitational blood flow of modified packed red cells. Variables affecting free flow included final haematocrit, duration of blood storage at 4-6 degrees C and the centrifugal force required in preparation of this blood component. Irrespective of the duration of storage, free blood flow of modified packed red cells was not different from whole blood, provided the haematocrit did not exceed 0.63.