Red blood cell preservation by droplet freezing with polyvinylpyrrolidone or sucrose-dextrose and by bulk freezing with glycerol.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Red blood cell (RBC) preservation is essential to transfusion medicine. Many blood group reference laboratories need a method to preserve rare blood samples for serologic testing at a later date. This study offers a comparison of three common cryoprotective agents and protocols used today: bulk preservation with glycerol and droplet freezing with sucrose-dextrose (S+D) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).

Study design and methods

Human blood from 14 volunteers was collected and frozen at set intervals over 2 weeks with PVP, S+D, or glycerol. The frozen RBCs were later thawed and the percentage of surviving RBCs was determined. Detailed protocols and an instructional video are supplied.

Results

Over a 2-week period, RBCs preserved with glycerol and thawed with a w

SUBMITTER: Schmid P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3470803 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature