Washing stored red blood cells in an albumin solution improves their morphologic and hemorheologic properties

Abstract

Washing of stored RBCs in a 1% HSA solution specifically reduces echinocytosis, and this shape recovery has a beneficial effect on microvascular perfusion in vitro. Washing in 1% albumin may represent a new approach to improving the quality of stored RBCs and thus potentially reducing the likelihood of adverse clinical outcomes associated with transfusion of blood stored for longer periods of time.