Abstract
Predonation levels and levels in ACD‐A and CPD blood units stored for up to 21 days under standard blood bank conditions were assayed for factors V and VIII. Factor V activity decreased slowly and almost alike in both groups, reaching 40% in ACD‐A and 31% in CPD bottles after 3 weeks of storage. Factor VIII activity fell from predonation level 102 to 73% in ACD‐A and 107 to 97% in CPD units within 2 h of blood collection. Subsequent loss was rapid in both groups, reaching 23 and 33% after 1 week, 14 and 12% after 3 weeks, respectively. The findings indicate that factor VIII is better preserved in fresh CPD than in fresh ACD‐A bank blood.