Effects of Agglomeration on Human Red Blood Cells

Abstract

Washing of either nonfrozen or previously frozen red blood cells with nonelectrolyte solutions caused a significant reduction in intracellular potassium concentration. Storage of the nonfrozen or previously frozen washed red blood cells at 4 C for up to 48 hours produced further reductions in intracellular potassium levels. The loss of cellular potassium after the washing was much greater in previously frozen red blood cells than in the non‐frozen cells. Washing with 4.5 per cent glucose and 4.5 per cent fructose, instead of 8 per cent glucose and 1 per cent fructose, decreased MCV and osmotic fragility, and increased MCHC and cellular density, which suggests that blood so treated was not acceptable for clinical use. Thus, the volume and composition of the electrolyte solutions used to disaggregate red blood cells determined the magnitude of the changes in the washed red blood cells during postthaw storage. Significant correlations relating changes in red blood cell indices, osmotic fragility, intracellular electrolyte levels (K + , Na + , Cl ‐ ), and the density distribution of the red blood cells provided useful guidelines for determining the environmental conditions for the washing of both nonfrozen and previously frozen red blood cells with nonelectrolyte solutions under which the restored red blood cells will have acceptable physical and structural characteristics.