EVALUATION OF CANINE RED-BLOOD-CELLS STORED IN A SALINE, ADENINE, ANDGLUCOSE SOLUTION FOR 35 DAYS

An additive solution for the storage of red blood cells was evaluated for use in dogs. Blood collected from 6 dogs was processed into packed red blood cells and stored for 35 days in the additive solution Nutri cel (Miles, Inc, Pharmaceutical Division, West Haven, CT), Packed red blood cells stored in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1; Fenw al Laboratories, Baxter Health Care Corp, Deerfield, IL) also were eva luated for comparison, Red blood cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) concentration, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration, percentage hemolysis, and pH were determined. The red blood cell post-transfusio n viability (PTV) after 35 days of storage was assessed with both sing le-labeled chromium 51 (Cr-51) and double-labeled technetium 99m/chrom ium 51 ((TC)-T-99/Cr-51) techniques. Mean ATP concentration and percen tage hemolysis of the cells stored in Nutricel were 1.1 mu mol/g hemog lobin (Hb) and 0.28% respectively and did not differ significantly (P < .05) from the values of 1.0 mu mol/g Hb and 0.33% from the CPDA-1-st ored red blood cells. The mean pH of red blood cells stored in Nutrice l was 6.19, which was significantly lower than the pH of 6.47 for cell s stored in CPDA-1. The mean 2,3-DPG concentration of red blood cells stored in Nutricel was significantly higher at 10.1 mu mol/g Hb than t he 2,3-DPG concentration of 3.4 mu mol/g Hb for cells stored in CPDA-1 . The mean PTV of canine red blood cells stored in Nutricel for 35 day s was 85% with Cr-51 and 90% with (99)mTC/Cr-51. This was significantl y higher than the mean PTVs of 38% and 36% for the CPDA-1 stored cells as assessed with Cr-51 and (99)mTc/Cr-51 techniques, respectively. It was concluded that 35-day-old canine red blood cells stored in Nutric el are of acceptable quality for transfusion purposes. Copyright (C) 1 997 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.