The Preservation of Red Cell ATP

The addition of high concentrations of phosphate ion have been found to enhance markedly the stability of ATP of red cells stored at 4 C. A marked initial rise of ATP levels was followed by a subsequent gradual decline when phosphate in concentrations of .05 M to .3 M was included in preservative media containing adenine. A second rise in the concentration of ATP was observed if the pH of the sample was adjusted by the addition of sodium carbonate. The addition of phosphate in high concentrations to preservative media may prove to be of practical significance.