Studies to Research and Develop Methods of Assuring the Clinical Safety of Frozen-Thawed Red Cells at Times in Excess of the Current 24-Hour Outdating Period.

摘要

Studies were made of the chemical and cytologic changes which occur when frozen-thawed red cells are stored at 4C for periods up to 21days. For up to five days the changes in most storage media were insignificant,but past this period red cell destruction occurred. Units of blood which were contaminated showed an extremely slow growth of bacteria when stored at 4C and showed no increased hemolysis for the five day period. Contamination was easily detected by the use of the Bactec radiomicrobiological detection instrument. Studies also showed that units of blood stored at 4C could be refrozen several times with a small (15-20%) reduction of red cells. Finally,studies with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Aseptic Fluid Transfer System have shown that in vivo survival of red cells processed through this apparatus,and also subsequent samples which were frozen,have normal survival times.