Phosphate ion exchange resin used in the liquid preservation of baboon red cells

Baboon whole blood, collected in 14 percent citrate-phosphate-dextrose anticoagulant solution in plastic bags was stored in 100-ml aliquots at 4 degrees C for 28 days in the presence or absence of 0.75 grams of phosphate anion exchange resin. In vitro and in vivo measurements after autologous transfusions were made to determine whether the phosphate anion exchange resin had any beneficial effect on the blood during storage. The in vitro measurements of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and P50 were higher throughout the 28 days of storage at 4 degrees C in the blood stored in the phosphate anion exchange resin. After autologous transfusions in six baboons of red cells prepared from whole blood stored at 4 degrees C for 21 days, the 24-hour posttransfusion survival values were 86 +/- 6 percent (mean +/- SD) in the presence of resin and 83 +/- 6 percent in the absence of resin. In five other baboons, red cells prepared from 28-day-old blood showed a mean 24-hour posttransfusion survival of 82 +/- 4 percent in the presence of resin and 75 +/- 4 percent in the absence of resin. The addition of a phosphate anion exchange resin to the citrate-phosphate-dextrose anticoagulant provided better maintenance of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentrations and P50 levels during storage of whole blood at 4 degrees C, and red cells prepared from whole blood stored in this solution had better oxygen transport function than red cells prepared from blood stored without resin. Red cell adenosine triphosphate concentrations and 24-hour posttransfusion survival values were similar whether or not the anticoagulant contained resin.