Fine screen filtration of banked blood: effect on red cell survival

Two fine screen mesh microfilters and the Baxter blood administration set commonly used in U.K. hospitals were compared for their effect on the red cell survival of transfused stored autologous blood in six healthy males. The effect of the filtered transfusions on pulmonary gas exchange and on blood coagulation was measured. No significant difference was found between either microfileter and the Baxter giving-set for the red cell survival of transfused blood. Pulmonary gas exchange and coagulation were unaffected by transfusion of one unit of whole blood. Post-transfusion bilirubin concentrations were significantly less with one of the microfilters compared with the Baxter giving-set, possibly because of trapping of effete red cells within the filter. An unsuspected finding was the effect of transfusion in increasing the peripheral blood neutrophil count.