Evaluation of red blood cells stored at -80 degrees C in excess of 10 years.
BACKGROUND
RBCs frozen in 40 percent (wt/vol) glycerol are currently approved by the FDA and the AABB for storage at -80 degrees C for up to 10 years.


METHODS
This study examined 20 RBC units that had been cryopreserved in 40 percent (wt/vol) glycerol and stored at -80 degrees C for up to 22 years. Measures of the freeze-thaw-wash (FTW) recovery, ATP, 2,3-DPG, methemoglobin, RBC indices, morphology, and osmotic fragility were made immediately after deglycerolization and after 24 hours of storage at 4 degrees C.


RESULTS
RBCs frozen for longer than 10 years had acceptable mean FTW recovery, normal oxygen transport function, RBC morphology, RBC indices, methemoglobin, and osmotic fragility. Statistical analysis indicated that the in-vitro viability and function of cryopreserved RBCs was not dependent on the length of frozen storage or postthaw storage at 4 degrees C but did correlate with the storage length at 4 degrees C before cryopreservation.


CONCLUSIONS
The data reported in this study demonstrate that RBCs can be stored at -80 degrees C beyond 10 years with acceptable in-vitro quality and suggest that more defined criteria for the cryopreservation process be adopted.
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
J
J
Lecak
K
K
Scott
C
C
Young
J
J
Hannon
J P
JP
Acker
D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate / Q000097:blood; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D048429:Cell Size; D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D005990:Glycerol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D009996:Osmotic Fragility; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D000925:Anticoagulants; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D008706:Methemoglobin; D005990:Glycerol; D010100:Oxygen