Effect of centrifugation and subsequent storage on red blood cells

Blood drawn into CPD solution from 33 normal donors was divided into four groups: (I) centrifuged (at 5,000 g for 7 min) after 7 days of storage, (II) centrifuged after 14 days storage, (III) centrifuged after 21 days storage and (IV) uncentrifuged. After 21 days of storage, aliquots of all units were labeled with chromium-51, reinjected into the donor from which they were drawn and erythrocyte survival was measured. Red blood cell recovery and survival for all four groups was essentially the same; 24-hour recovery was 85%; T 1/2 was 28.2--31.6 days. Our results suggest that blood can be centrifuged and stored at any time during its 21-day shelf life without detrimental effect on erythrocyte survival.