Clinical Evaluation of Transfused Blood after Long‐term Storage in ACD with Adenine

Abstract

Whole blood collected in ACD with or without adenine was transfused into patients with various forms of blood loss. The units collected in ACD alone had been stored 14 to 28 days, while those units collected in ACD with adenine had been stored 28 to 42 days. Of the 771 units in the study, 545 were transfused into 295 patients. A total of 276 units were collected in ACD with adenine and were given to 130 patients. Little or no reaction was detected from clinical observation and selected laboratory tests related to the transfusion and/or solution. Isotope labeling of some of the transfused units given to more than 80 patients provided an estimate of the 24‐hour posttransfusion survival and the results were similar to the average survival obtained in normal subjects after single‐unit transfusions. Based on clinical laboratory findings, apparent lack of toxicity combined with adequate support of the bleeding patient suggest that blood stored in adenine is useful after longer storage periods than is blood stored in plain ACD. The 70 per cent 24‐hour survival guideline suggests satisfactory survival after 35 days of storage, and possibly after 42 days.