Preservation of Coagulation Factors V and VIII during Collection and Subsequent Storage of Bank Blood in ACD‐A and CPD Solutions

Predonation levels and levels in ACD‐A and CPD blood units stored for up to 21 days under standard blood bank conditions were assayed for factors V and VIII. Factor V activity decreased slowly and almost alike in both groups, reaching 40% in ACD‐A and 31% in CPD bottles after 3 weeks of storage. Factor VIII activity fell from predonation level 102 to 73% in ACD‐A and 107 to 97% in CPD units within 2 h of blood collection. Subsequent loss was rapid in both groups, reaching 23 and 33% after 1 week, 14 and 12% after 3 weeks, respectively. The findings indicate that factor VIII is better preserved in fresh CPD than in fresh ACD‐A bank blood.