Liquid-stored red blood cells for transfusion. A status report.

Blood transfusion in a modern sense means the transfusion of red cells, when necessary supplemented by other components. The demand for plasma and plasma fractions and for platelets for therapeutic use has had an influence on the technique for preparing red cells. Automated devices have made it possible to perform collection as well as separation under more standardized conditions. Improved techniques for storage of red cells have prolonged the shelf life somewhat but most of the available methods disregard the rapid loss of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and the accompanying increase in oxygen affinity. Methods are available which reduce the number of contaminating leukocytes to low levels, but information is still incomplete as to the degree of depletion actually needed.