Human red cells frozen by various methods have been stored in the frozen state at -80 degrees C for as long as 21 years. This report discusses: red cells frozen with 42 percent weight per volume (wt/vol) glycerol in an ionic medium in a polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic bag using the Cohn method; red cells frozen with 45 percent wt/vol glycerol in a low ionic medium in a PVC plastic bag using the Huggins method; red cells frozen with 40 percent wt/vol glycerol in an ionic medium in a polyolefin plastic bag using the Meryman-Hornblower method; and red cells frozen with 40 percent wt/vol glycerol in an ionic medium in a standard 600-ml or an elongated 800-ml PVC plastic primary collection bag with an adapter port using the Naval Blood Research Laboratory (NBRL) method. After frozen storage for as long as 21 years by the four methods described above, the thawed red cells were deglycerolized with 50 to 150 ml of 12 percent sodium chloride and 1.5 to 2.0 l of sodium chloride-glucose or sodium chloride-glucose-phosphate solution. After washing and storage at 4 degrees C for 24 hour, the red cells had a mean freeze-thaw-wash recovery value of 90 percent, a mean 24-hour posttransfusion survival value of 85 percent, a mean index of therapeutic effectiveness of 75 percent, normal or slightly impaired oxygen transport function, and minimal hemolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Red cell concentrates with hematocrit values of 80 +/- 5 percent were stored at 4 degrees C either in citrate-phosphate-dextrose for 22 to 28 days or in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine-one for 35 to 39 days. After storage, the red cells had reduced 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and adenosine triphosphate levels, and biochemical treatment with a solution called PIPA was used to restore these levels. The red cells were not preserved further, but instead were washed after rejuvenation with an unbuffered sodium chloride-glucose solution, pH 5.0, for in vivo studies, and with a buffered sodium chloride-glucose-phosphate solution, pH 6.8, for comparative in vitro studies. The red cells were stored in the wash solution at 4 degrees C for 72 hours after washing. Red cell recovery after washing was about 95 percent. Twenty-four-hour posttransfusion survival value was about 80 percent, and the index of therapeutic effectiveness was greater than 75 percent. These biochemically modified washed red cells exhibited higher than normal P50 values, even after 3 days of postwash storage at 4 degrees C. The units that were washed with the sodium chloride-glucose solution with a pH of 5.0 exhibited a greater degree of hemolysis after 3 days of postwash storage at 4 degrees C than did the units that were washed with the sodium chloride-glucose-phosphate solution with a pH of 6.8.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)