In vitro characteristics of red blood cell concentrates prepared from under- and overcollected units of whole blood and from a paediatric blood bag system

The problem of how to deal with red blood cell concentrates (RBCs) prepared from under- or overcollected units of whole blood (WB) and how to collect blood from underweight persons arises in the context of autologous predepos it. To determine the quality of RBCs stored in PAGGS-M additive solution pr epared from under- and overcollected units of whole blood and of PAGGS-M RB Cs prepared from a paediatric 250-mL top outlet blood bag system we measure d blood picture, haemolysis, K+, pH, ATP and 2,3-DPG on days 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 49 of storage. The volume of WB collected ranged from 150 to 600 mL in 50-mL increments (4 units per volume). Haemolysis was under 0.8% on day 49 in all RBCs prepared from WB donations between 200 mL and 600 mL. Howev er, the day 49 haemolysis level of standard RBCs prepared from 450 mL of WE (0.15 +/- 0.03%) was reached earlier in RBCs from under- and overcollected units of whole blood. 2,3-DPG levels decreased rapidly between days 10 and 20 in all RBCs studied. RBCs from 450-mL donations showed acceptable ATP m aintenance after 49 days (70.4% of day 0 value), while all other RBC ATP le vels were below 50% of the day 0 level on day 49. In vitro quality data of RBCs prepared from a 250-mL donation in the paediatric blood bag system aft er storage for about 25 days were comparable to those after 49 days of stor age of standard RBCs. Our results suggest that it is feasible to transfuse PAGGS-M RBCs prepared from under- as well as overcollected units of WE in t he autologous setting. However, we strongly recommend shortening the storag e period of such RBCs to maintain the quality level of standard RBCs.