title: Collection and storage of leukocyte depleted whole blood in autologous blood predeposit in elective surgery programs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this investigation was to provide evidence that leukocyte depleted whole blood meets the requirements for transfusion of the European Council and thus may be an alternative to leukocyte and plasma depleted packed red blood cells in autologous blood predeposit for patients undergoing elective surgery programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard units of 450mL blood were collected from 25 healthy male volunteers. Leukocyte depletion was done via inline filtration 4h after collection. Storage lesion was assessed by measuring the release of K(+), LDH, free hemoglobin, and lactate into the storage medium, as well as by the increase of hemolysis, the decrease of pH and consumption of glucose over a storage period of 35 days. As surrogate marker for red cell quality the intracellular concentrations of adenine nucleotides [ATP, ADP, AMP] were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extent of storage lesion remained within the ranges of standard liquid storage conditions. Hemolysis was far below the threshold of 0.8% in all WB units at the end of their shelf life. Only minor changes of intracellular adenine nucleotide levels were measured indicating a preserved function of red blood cells in leukocyte depleted whole blood. At the end of shelf life 70%+/-18% of initial ATP levels were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our data we propose that leukocyte depleted whole blood, stored for 35 days can be an option in the autologous blood supply as it meets the requirements for transfusion of the European Council.
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria. gerda.leitner@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Gerda C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Leitner
authors.forename: Isolde
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rach
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buchta
authors.forename: Guenter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weigel
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoecker
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Fischer