Physical and Chemical Changes of ACD‐Preserved Blood: A Comparison of Blood in Glass Bottles and Plastic Bags

Abstract

Abstract. ACD blood was preserved in glass bottles with or without aeration and in plastic bags in air or nitrogen gas at 4.5°C. The blood was examined for physical and chemical changes of erythrocyte membrane resistance, hemoglobin in the plasma, the viscosity of the blood, pH of plasma, and ATP and 2,3‐DPG content of erythrocytes. The blood preserved in plastic bags showed less changes than blood in glass bottles. The presence of air or nitrogen gas in blood seems to increase the pH perhaps by elimination of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) which in turn causes the different rates of glycolysis in the erythrocytes.