Red Cell Preservation: Further Studies with Adenine

Supplementation of the ACD-preservative with small amounts of adenine(0.5 µM per ml. amounting to 37 mg. of the base or 56 mg. of adenine sulfateper 550 ml. unit of blood) preserved satisfactory viability (post-transfusionsurvival greater than 70 per cent) of stored human red cells for 5 to 6 weeks.In the concentrations used, the addition of guanine, cytidine or uridine, aloneor in combination with adenine, had little or no effect in extending viability.Hypoxanthine, even in large amounts, did not appear to be toxic to thestored cells. Preservation of viability after 6 weeks of refrigerated storagemay be somewhat improved by storage in certain plastic containers as compared with glass.

Submitted on April 16, 1962 Accepted on June 22, 1962