In vitro and in vivo measurements of gamma-radiated, frozen, glycerolized RBCs

BACKGROUND: Transfusion-associated GVHD results from the presence of viable lymphocytes in transfused allogeneic blood components. Viable immunocompet ent lymphocytes have been detected in RBCs that were frozen with glycerol a nd washed before transfusion. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The study reported here assessed the effect of ir radiation on human RBCs frozen with 40-percent (wt/vol) glycerol and stored at -80 degreesC. In vitro and in vivo testing was done on human RBCs that were frozen with 40-percent (wt/vol) glycerol at -80 degreesC, with some un its exposed to 2500 cGy of gamma radiation and others not irradiated, and t hat, after thawing and washing, were stored in a sodium chloride-glucose so lution at 4 degreesC for 3 days before autologous transfusion. RESULTS: The glycerol-frozen RBCs treated with 2500 cGy before deglyceroliz ation had a mean freeze-thaw-wash recovery of 87 percent and a mean 24-hour posttransfusion survival of 86 percent after storage for 3 days at 4 degre esC in a 0.9-percent NaCl and 0.2-percent glucose solution. For the nonirra diated units, the mean freeze-thaw-wash recovery was 85 percent and the mea n 24-hour posttransfusion survival was 83 percent. CONCLUSION: These data show similar, acceptable results for RBCs frozen wit h 40-percent (wt/vol) glycerol at -80 degreesC and treated in the frozen st ate with 2500 cGy of gamma radiation and for RBCs that were not irradiated, all of which were washed acid then stored in a sodium chloride-glucose sol ution for 3 days before autologous transfusion.