Blood Transfusion Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Transfusion, including details on blood donation, blood types, leukemia.

The age of stored red blood cell concentrates at the time of transfusion.

Raat NJ, Berends F, Verhoeven AJ, de Korte D, Ince C

Department of Physiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. n.j.raat@amc.uva.nl

In the past decade, studies suggesting a reduced oxygen delivery by stored red blood cell concentrates (RBCCs) have initiated a discussion about the use of fresh versus old blood. We determined whether old RBCCs represent a significant part of the total of RBCCs issued. The age of RBCCs at the time of transfusion was determined in 74 084 units during a 5-year period in the Academic Medical Center, a main Dutch University Hospital. The mean (+/-SD) storage time of the total number of transfused RBCC was 19.4 +/- 7.0 days, and 37% were older than 3 weeks. As more than one-third of the transfused RBCC units are stored for longer than 3 weeks, the research examining differences in oxygen delivery between fresh and stored RBCC is relevant for packed RBC transfusion practice.

Published 5 October 2005 in Transfus Med, 15(5): 419-23.
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