Complement in CPD‐Stored Blood

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Abstract
We studied complement functions, breakdown of C3 and aggregation of immunoglobulins in whole blood stored in citrate phosphate dextrose at 4°C for up to 3 weeks from 10 normal blood donors. No significant changes in total haemolytic complement (CH50) and alternative pathway haemolytic complement activity were detected. However, the complement‐mediated capacity of the sera to solubilise a pre‐formed immune precipitate decreased significantly at 2 and 3 weeks (p<0.02 at 2 weeks, p< 0.003 at 3 weeks). No C3 conversion could be detected by immunoelectrophoresis but alteration in C3 was attested by a significant increase in breakdown products of C3 by 1 week (p< 0.002) and all were above the normal range after 3 weeks (p< 0.0001). No aggregation of immunoglobulins could be detected using two immune complex assays.