Abstract
The storage period of cryopreserved red blood cells (RBCs) is 10 years by regulation both in Japan and United States. The quality of RBCs frozen with a high glycerol concentration at -85℃ for as long as 20 years was studied. The post-thawed deglycerolized red blood cells (DRBCs) were resuspended either in saline or mannitol-adenine-phosphate (MAP) solution. The DRBCs were stored at 4±2℃ for up to one week, and value of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), 2, 3-diphospho-glycerate (2, 3-DPG), morphology scores, methemoglobin and P_<50> were measured at the time of 0, 4,12, 24, 72 hour (s) and one week after storage. The results of the DRBCs showed that the quality were maintained in good conditions. There was no significant difference from liquid preserved RBCs in MAP solution stored for 24 hours. After one week of post-thawed storage, the DRBCs resuspended in MAP solution showed better results than that of resuspended in saline. There was no significant difference from liquid preserved RBCs in MAP solution stored at 2 to 3 weeks. These results indicated the possibility of extending the period of frozen RBCs at least up to 20 years and, extending the storage period of DRBCs resuspended in MAP solution up to one week.
