Use of Adsol preservation solution for prolonged storage of low viscosity AS-1 red blood cells.

A new red cell preservation solution is described in which the red cells may be stored for 49 d with greater than 75% mean post-transfusion recovery. Blood is drawn into Anticoagulant Citrate Phosphate Dextrose Solution, centrifuged, the plasma removed and the cells resuspended in 100 ml of a solution containing saline, adenine, dextrose and mannitol (Adsol Preservation Solution, Fenwal Laboratories, Deerfield, Illinois). The final product, AS-1 Red Blood Cells, has a haematocrit of approximately 0.60 and flow properties that are similar to those of whole blood. After storage, red cell haemolysis is minimal and erythrocyte adenosine triphosphate is well preserved. This study documents that red cells may be stored in a protein-poor electrolyte medium for periods of 49 d with good post-transfusion survival.