Studies on the Preservation of Red Blood Cells

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Utilizing an automated antiglobulin test, the presence of the 3rd and 4th components of human complement (c) on normal red blood cells (RBC) (E) was investigated. Only negligible amounts of the 4th component, C4, could be detected on freshly collected or stored RBC. The fragment C3d of the 3rd component, C3, was detectable on freshly collected and stored normal RBC. A product derived from C3 and reacting with anti-C3c antibody was only barely detectable on freshly collected normal RBC. During storage of blood at 4.degree. C, increasing quantities of this material were detected on the RBC membrane. Bromelin treatment rendered stored RBC completely nonreactive with anti-C3c antibody, whereas only partial loss of reactivity was observed following incubation with heated plasma. Incubation of EC43 with heated plasma completely abolished their ability to react with anti-C3c antibody. The presence of this C3 fragment on stored RBC may contribute to the development of preservation injury.