Effect of Transportation on the Posttransfusion Survival of Blood Stored in CPD

Studies on the effects of land and air transportation on CPD blood stored for 21 and 28 days are reported. Plasma potassium, supernatant hemoglobin, per cent hemolysis, whole blood pH, plasma sugar, posttransfusion survival (autologous) and t/2 of the transported units did not differ significantly from those of the control units that were left undisturbed in the refrigerator for comparable duration of storage. No untoward reactions were encountered in any of the subjects. In addition, two subjects showed satisfactory red cell survival (above 70%) after 21 days of storage, in spite of collection deficits of 200 and 130 ml. No correlation could be shown between survival and t/2 and such in vitro parameters as per cent hemolysis, plasma hemoglobin, plasma sugar, pH and plasma potassium. A good positive correlation was found between survival and initial slope.