The Use of Optically Transparent Electrodes to Assess the Quality of Erythrocytes during Storage

Using an electrochemical method based on the use of an optically transparent working electrode, it was shown that, under conditions of hypothermic (4°C) storage of erythrocytes, the degree of reversibility of changes in their shape decreases when exposed to direct electric current. With cathodic polarization of an optically transparent working electrode (–0.5 V), the proportion of erythrocytes converted to spheroechinocytes decreased from 99.6 ± 0.4 (day 1) to 42.8 ± 14.5% (day 42) (p < 0.05), and with anodic polarization (1.2 V), the proportion of erythrocytes converted to stomatocytes decreased from 80.6 ± 6.7 (day 1) to 35.4 ± 5.6% (day 42) (p < 0.05). At a later storage period, an increase in the number of cells that underwent destruction under the influence of direct electric current was observed in the samples, the presence of which in the transfused erythrocyte suspension can lead to an increase in free hemoglobin in the recipient’s blood after transfusion. The results obtained can form the basis for the development of new methods for assessing the quality of blood components.