The effect of pH and blood gas correction in DPG and plasma potassium content of stored blood.

During storage of CPD preserved blood, red cell DPG decreases and plasma potassium increases, the changes becoming more marked with increasing duration of storage. Correction of the blood gas and pH alterations of stored blood decreases plasma potassium and increases red cell DPG, but they do not return to normal except in blood stored less than seven days. There is a highly significant correlation between increasing red cell DPG and decreasing plasma potassium as the pH and blood gases of stored blood are restored to physiological range.