Effects of Anticoagulants and Storage on Granulocyte Function in Bank Blood

Storage of granulocytes for transfusion has notbeen practical because it has been consideredthat granulocyte function in bank blood is retained for only a few hours after collection. Inthe present study, granulocyte function wasevaluated using the bactericidal assay and thequantitative nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)method. Granulocytes from whole blood collected into acid citrate dextrose (ACD), citratephosphate dextrose (CPD), heparin, ion exchange, and sodium citrate anticoagulantsshowed no functional impairment after 24 hr ofstorage at 4°C. With further storage, all granulocytes showed a loss of NBT activity. However, after 48 and 72 hr, granulocytes fromwhole blood stored in ACD and CPD killed theexpected number of bacteria in the bactericidalassay. Thus, when tested in vitro, granulocytesmaintain normal function, at least during thefirst 24 hr after collection when stored in certain anticoagulants under standard blood bankconditions.

Submitted on April 30, 1973 Accepted on June 23, 1973