Abstract
Protein-free red blood cells were prepared by washing fresh citrate-phosphate-dextrose [CPD] anticoagulated whole blood and resuspending the cells in a medium containing saline, adenine, phosphate and glucose (APG). The protein concentration in the APG medium was reduced to 0.0024% of the original plasma protein. The 24-h red blood cell posttransfusion survival after 21 days of storage was 80%. Extracellular K concentrations were less than CPD-plasma control after 21 days of storage. ATP concentrations were lower after storage in APG, but intracellular ATP was not closely associated with posttransfusion survival. Hemolysis was slightly increased in the APG group. There are no insurmountable barriers to the use of proteinfree media for the storage of washed red blood cells.