New options for the preparation and storage of red blood cells are available and undergo continuous evaluation.

Currently used systems for red blood cell (RBC) collection and storage for transfusion have the disadvantage that the RBC 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (BPG) concentration is depleted within two weeks of storage, resulting in a left-shift of the oxygen dissociation curve and a temporarily impaired capacity to deliver oxygen. We have studied the effects on red cell metabolism, morphology and in vivo recovery of 49-day storage of RBC, with collection in half-strength citrate CPD (0.5CPD) and storage in an additive solution containing citrate, adenine, mannitol, phosphate and glucose (RAS2). Traditional CPD-SAGM was used for comparison. Component preparation was performed after an initial holding period of the whole blood at ambient temperature for 8 h. The BPG concentration in 0.5CPD-RAS2 RBC was 0.633 +/- 0.120 mol (mol Hb)-1 as compared to 0.454 +/- 0.138 mol (mol Hb)-1 in CPD-SAGM RBC which implied a decrease to 67 and 48% of normal concentration, respectively. The mean RBC BPG concentration was maintained at the initial level for 28 days in the new system but decreased to very low levels within 14 days in the controls. The total adenine nucleotides were well maintained in both systems, adenosine triphosphate slightly better in the new system. Hemolysis after 49 days was 0.35 +/- 0.21% in the new system and 0.72 +/- 0.25% in the controls (p < 0.001). The morphology was better maintained in the new system (p < 0.001). The 24-hour posttransfusion survival of 49-day stored RBC was 78.9 +/- 7.1%. The membrane leakage of sodium and potassium was not significantly different in the two systems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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An EDP‐system has been developed to include several different blood bank routines and is suitable for an institutional blood bank as well as for an organization working with mobile units. It consists, in principle, of three parts: (1) An EDP‐system for registration and call‐up of blood donors, booking of blood‐letting programs, review of the total donor situation, etc. (2) A manual punch‐card system for the blood‐group serologic laboratory. A card punch with a corner‐cut reading device facilitates, in an easy, safe and inexpensive way, the transfer of punched data in a visible as well as computer‐readable form. (3) An EDP‐system for analysis of laboratory work and transfusions, cost accounting, and other statistical analysis. The system has been in use since the end of 1965. At present seven hospital blood banks and six mobile unit teams are involved, about 45,000 active blood donors are registered, and the number of blood donations is 135,000 per year. Only one computer is used. Although the distance between the computer center and the blood banks is up to 600 km (370 miles), communication has not been a problem, and data sent by ordinary mail have been fully satisfactory. The efficiency of blood bank administration has been considerably increased by the automation of previous manual functions and by the new possibilities of reviewing, at short intervals, such factors as the total donor situation and work‐load.