Skin graft storage and keratinocyte viability.

The viability of human split skin grafts stored in four solutions has been assessed by monitoring the percentage of viable keratinocytes in the stored grafts. Skin grafts stored in RM+ (Ready Mix) tissue culture medium remained more viable than those stored in Hartmann's, Marshall's or saline solutions. By day 10 (postoperative), the percentage of viable keratinocytes of those grafts stored in RM+ was around 85%, compared to a value of around 10% for the other media. By day 30, RM+ achieved a value of around 60% keratinocyte viability compared to a value approaching 1% in the other storage media under investigation. RM+ provides mitogens, nutrients, growth factors and physiological pH, all of which are important factors for successful skin graft storage.