Preservation of resuspended red cell concentrate. Analysis of purines, nucleosides and nucleotides in stored red cells.

Purine nucleotides of red blood cells (RBC) during storage in two different media with addition of adenine/nicotinamide (NAP) or adenine/guanosine (CDS-AG) were estimated by HPLC. Synthesis of guanine nucleotides reached a maximum after 14 days in RBC stored with adenine/guanosine. The higher adenine concentration in the NAP solution (3 mmol/l) did not increase adenine consumption and the ATP-level of the erythrocytes. The adenylate energy charge (AEC) of RBC decreased from 0.91 to 0.63 during 42 days of storage in CDS-AG solution.