The Rate of Post-Transfusion Loss of Non-Viable Stored Human Erythrocytes and the Re-Utilization of Hemoglobin-Derived Radio-Active Iron 1

When human erythrocytes are transfused within a few hours of taking in citrate solution, practically all of them remain intact in the recipient's blood stream (1). Thereafter, they disappear from the circulation at a rate of about one per cent per day (2, 3), and it is generally believed that this is the normal death rate of homologous erythrocytes. Chemico-physical changes occur in red cells dur-ing storage in vitro. Depending upon the preser-vative value of the anticoagulant used, deteriora-tive changes may occur gradually and proceed at relatively constant rates for considerable periods, or they may be initiated early in storage and pro-ceed at accelerated rates. Post-transfusion vi-ability of preserved cells is a function of the length