Is Older Blood Safe for Transfusion?

Use of blood stored for 40 to 42 days increased levels of bilirubin, ferritin, and nontransferrin-bound iron and enhanced growth of pathogenic Escherichia coli bacteria.

Current guidelines permit storage of blood for as long as 42 days after collection. However, during storage, red cells lose 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate and undergo other changes that shorten their life span. Moreover, phagocytosis of these stored, transfused cells is associated with iron release, with potentially adverse consequences.

Now, investigators have examined the safety of giving stored blood to 14 healthy adult volunteers. Each volunteer donated a leukoreduced, double red blood cell unit and was subsequently transfused with one “fresh” unit after it was stored for 3 to 7 days and with one “older” unit after it was stored for 40 to 42 days. Results of blood samples taken after each transfusion were as follows:

Incremental hemoglobin incre…

Reviewing Author

David Green, MD, PhD

Disclosures

EquityNovartis

David Green, MD, PhD

Disclosures

EquityNovartis