Studies on the mechanism of human red cell loss of viability during storage at +4 degrees C. II. Relation between cellular morphology and viability.

Red cells collected in CPD, suspended in SAGM solution and stored for 42 days at +4 degrees C, were tested before and after incubation for 1 h at 37 degrees C with respect to autologous 24-hour posttransfusion red cell survival, morphology, fluidity at low shear rate and adenylate content. Warming and to some extent chromium labelling of the cells resulted in improvement of the morphology and fluidity but in no increase in adenosine triphosphate, total adenylate concentration or posttransfusion survival. The conclusion is drawn that short-term improvement of the morphology before transfusion does not result in increased viability.