Human red blood cells with normal or improved oxygen transport function prepared and frozen in the primary polyvinyl chloride plastic blood collection container.

This is a report a a new system for freezing human red blood cells in the same polyvinyl chloride plastic container in which the blood is collected and separated into components. This polyvinyl chloride plastic collection bag with integrally attached transfer packs for blood collection, component separation, red blood cell biochemical modification, freezing, storage, and post-thaw dilution before washing, represents a major advancement in the freeze-preservation process. The label with the donor's blood type and identification number affixed to the bag at the time of collection remains in place throughout the freezing and thawing process. The transfused red blood cells are of superior quality, and the processing cost is less than with other methods of freeze-preservation. There is a lower risk of contamination with these red blood cells because manipulation of the product is kept at a minimum. "Rejuvenation", a bioengineering process by which outdated red blood cells can be salvaged, can be incorporated into the preservation process using one of the attached transfer packs of the primary collection bag. This process has been introduced as a possible means of alleviating the dramatic blood shortages which occur periodically. Red blood cells may also be "rejuvenated" after storage in the liquid state to increase their 2,3 DPG and ATP levels to 150 to 200% of normal, and these red blood cells with improved oxygen transport function have been administered to anemic patients with and without cardiopulmonary insufficiency, patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and treatment with hypothermia during cardiac surgery, and in instances where nonhemolytic transfusion reactions might be expected.