Effects of autoclave sterilization on the physical properties of storage bags and granulocyte function.

Autoclave sterilization altered the leaching of plasticizer, CO2 gas permeability, surface area and the surface wettability of bag films. These changes affected granulocyte cell counts and functions during storage. Four types of polyvinyl chloride bags, with di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) or tri-(2-ethylhexyl)trimellitate (TOTM) as plasticizer, with or without treatment by glow discharge (H2), were sterilized with ethylene oxide (EO) or autoclaving (AC). The greatest amounts of plasticizer leached from DEHP-EO bags. TOTM plasticizer did not leach into plasma. CO2 gas permeability was greater with TOTM than DEHP. AC sterilization decreased the surface area of bags. Wettability of film surfaces was greatest with H2-TOTM-EO. After storage in these bags for 24 and 48 h at 22 degrees C, the granulocyte cell counts and functions were greatest in H2-TOTM-EO bags with the nonleaching plasticizer, higher CO2 gas permeability and higher wettable surface due to glow-discharge treatment. The H2-TOTM-EO bag was useful as a granulocyte storage container.