The effect of plastic overwraps on storage measures of red cell concentrates.
BACKGROUND
For hygienic purposes, plastic overwraps can be used for storage of leucoreduced red cell concentrates (LR-RCC). However, the effect of the use of such overwrapping on in vitro parameters during 42 days of storage was unknown.


METHODS
In paired experiments, LR-RCCs in SAGM (saline, adenine, glucose, mannitol) were packed in two types of polyethylene overwrap or in a polypropylene overwrap; no overwrap served as reference (n = 12 paired experiments). Units were stored at 2-6 degrees C for 42 days and sampled at regular intervals for in vitro analysis.


RESULTS
No significant effect was found for any of the overwraps investigated. All units contained > 2.7 micromol adenosine triphosphate per gram haemoglobin and had a haemolysis rate well below 0.8% on Day 42.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of plastic overwraps does not affect red cell quality markers in vitro.
Sanquin Blood Bank North West region, Plesmanlaan 125, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.vandermeer@sanquin.nl
P F
PF
van der Meer
R N I
RN
Pietersz
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010969:Plastics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000009:adverse effects; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000009:adverse effects; D019064:Product Packaging / Q000379:methods
D010969:Plastics; D011126:Polypropylenes; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D020959:Polyethylene