In vitro efficacy of frozen erythrocytes: implementation of new strategic blood stores to alleviate resource shortage (issue revisited).
OBJECTIVE
Currently, the provision of blood products largely depends on walking blood banks and limited amounts of stored blood with short shelf lives. We aimed to compare the efficacy of erythrocyte concentrate (ECs) by pre- and postfreezing in vitro tests.


METHODS
In our study, 10 ECs were glycerolized, frozen, thawed, and then deglycerolized using the Naval Blood Research Laboratory method. In addition to using the standard tests, ATP and 2,3-DPG levels and the viability of erythrocytes were also determined.


RESULTS
The prefreezing mean viability rates of erythrocytes changed from 89.7 ± 13.7% to 98.6 ± 1.8% after thawing and deglycerolization. Prefreezing and day 0 ATP levels (1.64 ± 0.15 µmol/g Hb and 1.81 ± 0.14 µmol/g Hb, respectively) were similar. The 2,3-DPG levels decreased from 18.09 ± 4.78 µmol/g Hb measured before the procedure to 10.41 ± 4.58 µmol/g Hb on day 0. The mean hemolysis rates and supernatant Hb levels changed from 0.21 ± 0.11% to 0.36 ± 0.12% and 1 ± 0.5 g/L to 1.5 ± 0.5 g/L, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The test results showed the efficacy of the frozen-thawed ECs to be used in humans for a broad spectrum of clinical indications. As a part of a contingency plan, national frozen blood reserves need to be established.
Riza Aytaç
RA
Cetinkaya
Soner
S
Yilmaz
Ibrahim
I
Eker
Aytekin
A
Ünlü
Metin
M
Uyanik
Serkan
S
Tapan
Ahmet
A
Pekoğlu
Aliye Aysel
AA
Pekel
Zerrin
Z
Ertaş
Orhan
O
Gürsel
Uğur Haci
UH
Muşabak
Sebahattin
S
Yilmaz
Ismail Yaşar
IY
Avci
Ahmet Türker
AT
Çetin
Can Polat
CP
Eyigün
D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005990:Glycerol; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D013997:Time Factors
D005990:Glycerol