Improving autologous blood harvest: recovery of red cells from sponges and suction.

The efficacy of red cell salvage was assessed under circumstances which simulated blood loss managed with sponges or suction. Expired banked blood was equally divided and processed by either suction, or absorbing the blood on a sponge followed by rinsing the sponge in saline. These two techniques were used to harvest washed, centrifuged erythrocytes. The volume, haematocrit and free haemoglobin concentration of the banked blood and the processed units were measured, and smears from all units were examined microscopically. The red cell mass was calculated as the product of the volume and haematocrit. The red cell mass recovered by suction and from sponges averaged 93% and 87% respectively. Blood lost in sponges can be recovered and used to increase the available autologous blood, thereby reducing the need for donor blood.