Survival of erythrocytes after autologous and allogeneic transfusion in cats.

Mean survival time of 14C-cyanate-labeled feline erythrocytes was determined after autologous and allogeneic transfusions. Mean survival time was defined as that time when one half of the transfused cells have been removed from circulation. Autologously transfused cells had a mean survival time of 38.0 days +/- 2.02. For allogeneic transfusion between cats of the same blood type, the mean cell survival time was 30 days. Cells from primary allogeneic transfusions between cats of differing blood groups had a mean survival time between 10 and 14 days, whereas cells from cats having had repeated transfusions had a mean survival time of less than 5 days. It was concluded that the life span of cross-transfused red cells can be affected by blood type, and that blood transfusions should be between cats of the same blood type for maximal effectiveness.