Studies on the Procurement of Blood Coagulation Factor VIII:

To determine the viability of blood cells collected in half‐strength (0.5 CPD.A2) and full‐strength citrate anticoagulants, paired crossover autologous survival studies were performed in normal volunteers using 51Cr‐labelled red cells after 35 days storage and 111In‐labelled platelets after 5 days storage. For both studies, viability was better maintained in 0.5 CPD.A2 anticoagulant. This was significant for red cells (24‐hour survival: 80 ± 6 vs. 52 ± 21 %) but not for platelets by either linear or multiple‐hit models (recovery 51 ± 13 vs. 38 ± 14%, survival 5.1 ± 1.4 vs. 3.7 ± 1.5 days). The poor viability of red cells after storage in full‐strength anticoagulant was associated with low cellular adenosine triphosphate levels and was confirmed in follow‐up studies.