STUDIES IN RED-BLOOD-CELL PRESERVATION .7. IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO STUDIES WITH A MODIFIED PHOSPHATE-AMMONIUM ADDITIVE SOLUTION

Studies were conducted to examine whether an experimental an experimen tal additive solution (EAS-2) containing, in mM: 20 NH4Cl, 30 Na2HPO4, 2 adenine, 110 dextrose, 55 mannitol, pH 7.15, would be useful to ext end the storage shelf life of human RBCs. With 6 pairs of split units, ATP concentrations were better maintained for 12 weeks with EAS-2 tha n with Adsol(R) (1.8 vs. 1.1 mumol/g Hb, respectively, p = 0.002). Aut ologous 24-hourS Cr-51 viability values for split units in the same do nors were: on 6 paired units at 8 weeks, EAS-2 87.0+/-4.5%, Adsol 72.6 +/-2.3%, p = 0.004; on 11 paired units at 9 weeks, EAS-2 79.5+/-7.1%, Adsol 68.2+/-10.1%, p = 0.0003. The data suggest that packed RBCs stor ed for 9 weeks with EAS-2 will be suitable for transfusion following t he removal of supernatant with a single washing step.