In vitro evaluation and study of the survival of erythrocytes preserved in a saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol medium for 35 days]

The saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol (SAGM) solution for resuspension of red cells was evaluated on 30 blood units tested over 42 days and compared to 5 red cell concentrates collected on the conventional CPD medium. Total and extra-cellular hemoglobin, potassium, pH, ATP and DPG concentrations, osmotic fragility, schizocyte formation, and red cell antigenicity were studied through the storage period. Chromium survival studies of autologous donated red cells were performed in 10 donors. Red cell concentrates resuspended in SAGM solution showed at the 35th day of conservation at 4 degrees C, a mean storage hemolysis of only 0.66%, an ATP concentration of 67% of the initial value, a schizocyte proportion of less than 1.5%, a mean 24 hour posttransfusion viability of 88.33% and a mean red cell T 1/2 survival of 25 days 10 hours. No alteration of common blood group antigens could be found after storage of red cells for 42 days.