Comparative study of automated cryopreservation of red blood cells.

BACKGROUND: Strategic blood reserves are an important component in meeting blood needs and this can be accomplished through the establishment of a frozen blood program.
METHODS: One hundred units of packed RBC were glycerolized using the Haemonetics ACP 215 automated cell processor and placed in a -86 °C deep freezer for freezing and storage. Product weight, hematocrit, RBC count, WBC count and hemoglobin were recorded prior to freezing. Twenty five bags were thawed and deglycerolized after every three months starting at one year from the date of first glycerolization In addition to the earlier parameters the bags were assessed for supernatant osmolality, pH, supernatant hemoglobin, ATP levels and supernatant potassium and from these red cell recovery, percentage hemolysis, supernatant glycerol and red cell viability were estimated. All tests were repeated at the end of 7 and 14 days.
RESULTS: The mean red cell recovery was found to be 86.12% on Day 0 and 84% on Day 14. All the bags showed residual glycerol and pH within the acceptable limits upto Day 14. Percentage hemolysis, Mean ATP levels and mean supernatant potassium levels were within acceptable limits upto Day 14. All the units were sterile upto Day 14.
CONCLUSION: The data in this study showed that the red cells which were glycerolized using the automated platform ACP 215, frozen at -80 °C for more than a year and deglycerolized again using the ACP 215 had excellent viability while being stored at 4 °C during the 14 days of post-thaw storage.