S A G--sucrose medium for red blood cell preservation

A preservation solution for buffy coat-free red cell concentrates (RCC) was tested. It contained sodium chloride (150), glucose (50), adenine (1.25 mmol/l) and additionally sucrose (30 mmol/l). After 35 days of storage about 50% of the initial ATP were found. The 24-hours post-transfusion survival rate amounted to 76%. The hemolysis rate was 0.25% and only 2% of the red cell membrane were released as microvesicles when plastic bags were used for storage. Sucrose can be replaced by mannitol or sorbitol at the same concentration. Guanosine (0.4 mmol per 1 RCC) slightly but not significantly improved the maintenance of ATP and the morphology as well as the membrane stability.