USE OF AN IN-VITRO BIOTINYLATION TECHNIQUE FOR DETERMINATION OF POSTTRANSFUSION VIABILITY OF STORED CANINE PACKED RED-BLOOD-CELLS

Objective-To determine posttransfusion viability (PTV) of canine RBC s tored for 35 days in an additive solution, using in vitro biotinylatio n and technetium-99m and chromium-51 ((TC)-T-99m/Cr-51) labeling techn iques. Sample Population-6 random source, adult dogs. Procedure-RBC fr om dogs were labeled with N-hydroxysuccinimide biotin (NHS-biotin) or (TC)-T-99m/Cr-51 in a crossover design. One unit (450 mi) of whole blo od was collected from each dog, processed into packed RBC, and stored for 35 days in an additive solution. The process was repeated at a lat er date, so that each dog had 2 units stored under similar conditions. Stored autologous RBC were then labeled with either NHS-biotin or Cr- 51 and reinfused. When Cr-51 was used, labeled cells were infused simu ltaneously with freshly drawn cells labeled with Tc-99m. Posttransfusi on viability of labeled cells was determined by dividing counts per mi nute (Tc-99m/Cr-51) Or percentage of cells (NHS-biotin) labeled at 24 hours by counts per minute or percentage of cells labeled after infusi on. Results-Mean PTV of packed RBC stored for 35 days in an additive s ystem was 80% when determined by biotinylation, 83% as determined by T c-99m/Cr-51, and 81% as determined by Cr-51 alone. Conclusions-In vitr o biotinylation provides an acceptable, nonradioisotopic means of dete rmining PTV of stored canine packed RBC. Clinical Relevance-NHS-biotin can be used to determine maximal storage time of canine RBC prepared for transfusion purposes.