Collection and storage of red blood cells with anticoagulant and additive solution with a physiologic pH

BACKGROUND: A donation of whole blood is most commonly collected in acidic citrate‐phosphate‐dextrose (CPD) variants with pH 5.2 to 6.2 as anticoagulants. Previously, we have shown that the initial pH after red blood cell (RBC) preparation can have an effect on RBCs during storage. First, we investigated the effect of the pH of the anticoagulant on RBCs. Second, we investigated the possibility of decreasing the pH of our new additive solution (AS) phosphate‐adenine‐glucose‐guanosine‐gluconate‐mannitol (PAGGGM) from pH 8.2 to 7.4 in combination with an anticoagulant with a physiologic pH. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Whole blood was collected in CPD (pH 5.6) or trisodiumcitrate (TNC; pH 7.4), and leukoreduced units were prepared using saline‐adenine‐glucose‐mannitol as AS. Second, whole blood was collected in TNC (pH 7.4), and leukoreduced units were prepared using PAGGGM (pH 7.4) or PAGGGM (pH 8.2) as AS. During cold storage, several in vitro characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: In agreement with our previous findings, the initial pH of whole blood has an effect during storage of RBCs. In the second part we show that there are no differences between PAGGGM (pH 7.4) and PAGGGM (pH 8.2) units when an anticoagulant with a physiologic pH was used. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the pH of the anticoagulant used during whole blood collection has an effect during storage of RBCs. When an anticoagulant with a physiologic pH is used during whole blood collection, the pH of PAGGGM can be decreased to physiologic levels, while maintaining adenosine triphosphate and 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate levels.