In vitro efficacy of frozen erythrocytes: implementation of new strategic blood stores to alleviate resource shortage (issue revisited).

Riza Aytaç Cetinkaya, Soner Yilmaz, Ibrahim Eker, Aytekin Ünlü, Metin Uyanik, Serkan Tapan, Ahmet Pekoğlu, Aliye Aysel Pekel, Zerrin Ertaş, Orhan Gürsel, Uğur Haci Muşabak, Sebahattin Yilmaz, Ismail Yaşar Avci, Ahmet Türker Çetin, Can Polat Eyigün

Index: Turk. J. Med. Sci. 45 , 638-43, (2015)

Full Text: HTML

Abstract

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.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.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.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.