REVERSAL OF STORAGE LESION OF CPD BANK BLOOD - PROBLEM IN CLINICAL MEDICINE

The effect of phosphate buffer on the course of pH, ATP, and 2,3‐DPG of CPD red blood cells stored at three temperatures was observed. Basic phosphate at an equilibrated level of 10 mM (as iP) maintained pH above 7.00 and ATP and 2,3‐DPG above 70 per cent of initial value in cells stored at 37 C for 24 hours. In contrast however, at 25 and 4 C no buffering was obtained with basic phosphate concentrations up to 50 mM. but values for both ATP and 2,3‐DPG were higher in phosphate treated aliquots than in controls throughout storage. When the pH of blood stored at 4 C was adjusted into the range 7.15 to 7.25 with tromethamine and the level of iP raised to 10 mM by addition of Na2HPO4 on day seven, it was found that ATP and 2,3‐DPG levels were maintained at 90 and 120 per cent, while control levels fell to 60 and 12 per cent, respectively at 21 days. The process described parallels the normal repair of damaged red blood cells of bank blood that occurs in vivo following transfusion. 1978 AABB