Washing of Red Blood Cells Previously Frozen in Liquid Nitrogen. Experience with the Elutramatic Ultra‐Flo System

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Abstract
An automated continuous‐flow washing system, the Elutramatic Ultra‐Flo system, has been tested for the deglycerolization of red blood cells previously frozen in liquid nitrogen. Packed red blood cells frozen with 100 ml of a 55 per cent glycerol solution were, after thawing, diluted with 175 ml 3.7 per cent sodium chloride solution. The standard wash program was used for the processing. Approximately 2.2 liter of saline solution were used for the washing of one unit of blood. The processing time for two units was 27 minutes in the automated cycles. The mean red blood cell recovery was 81 per cent and the mean residual hemolysis in the washed blood was 0.36 per cent. No important changes of ATP, DPG, and intraerythro‐cytic potassium occurred during the processing. The 24‐hour posttransfusion red blood cell survival was 91.6 ± 1.8 per cent. For the trained blood bank technician the Elutramatic Ultra‐Flo system offers a rapid and convenient method for the deglycerolization of red blood cells previously frozen in liquid nitrogen.