BackgroundOptimal procedure for storage of feline blood is needed. Open‐collection systems have been employed in feline medicine, thus limiting the possibility for storage.ObjectivesTo evaluate indicators of quality of feline blood stored for 35 days at +4°C in a closed‐collection system specifically designed for cats.AnimalsEight healthy adult European domestic shorthair cats with a weight of 5‐6.8 kg.MethodsThis is a case series study. A bacteriological test, CBC, blood smear, pH, osmotic fragility, 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate (2,3‐DPG), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) measurement were performed weekly on whole blood (WB) units from day 1 to day 35 after donation. The hemolysis index, lactate and potassium concentrations, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and fibrinogen were measured on plasma aliquots.ResultsOne out of eight blood units (BUs) had bacterial growth (Serratia marcescens) at day 35. No significant differences were found regarding CBC, morphology, pH, and osmotic fragility. Despite high inter‐individual variability and low starting levels, significant decreases in the mean concentrations of 2,3‐DPG (T0 1.99 mmol/g Hb, SD 0.52, T35 1.25 mmol/g Hb, SD 1.43; P = .003) and ATP (T0 1.45 mmol/g Hb, SD 0.71, T35 0.62 mmol/g Hb, SD 0.51; P < .001) were detected during the study, as opposed to an increase in hemolysis (T0 0.11 mmol/L, SD 0.07, T35 0.84 mmol/L, SD 0.19; P < .001), lactate (T0 3.30 mmol/L, SD 0.86, T35 13.36 mmol/L, SD 2.90; P < .001), and potassium (T0 3.10 mmol/L, SD 0.21, T35 4.12 mmol/L, SD 0.35; P < .001) concentrations.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe commercial BU kit is appropriate for blood collection and conservation of WB in cats. The maintenance of WB quality indicators during storage is essential for future improvements of feline transfusion medicine.

Background: Leukoreduction is a routine procedure in human transfusion medicine but is uncommon in veterinary. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of leukoreduction on the quality of canine whole blood (WB) and blood products during storage. Animals: Ten canine blood donors. Methods: This is a case series study. An amount of 450 mL of blood was collected from each dog. Five WB and 5 packed red blood cells (pRBC) bags were divided into 2 units each: leukoreduced (LR) and non-leukoreduced (nLR). RBC count, erythrocytes' mean osmotic fragility (MOF), 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), percentage of hemolysis, potassium (K), lactate, glucose, and cytokines were measured weekly from day of donation (T0) to day 35 (T35); pH, coagulation times, and clotting factors were evaluated at T0 and T35 from WB and in fresh frozen plasma after 1 year of storage.

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues represent a unique source of archived biological material, but obtaining suitable DNA and RNA for retrospective "-omic" investigations is still challenging. In the current study, canine tumor FFPE blocks were used to 1) compare common commercial DNA and RNA extraction kits; 2) compare target gene expression measured in FFPE blocks and biopsies stored in a commercial storage reagent; 3) assess the impact of fixation time; and 4) perform biomolecular investigations on archival samples chosen according to formalin fixation times. Nucleic acids yield and quality were determined by spectrophotometer and capillary electrophoresis, respectively. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for the following genes: BCL-2-associated X protein, B-cell lymphoma extra large, antigen identified by monoclonal antibody Ki-67, proto-oncogene c-KIT (c-kit). Two internal control genes (Golgin A1 and canine transmembrane BAX inhibitor motif containing 4), together with direct sequencing of c-kit exons 8, 9, 11, and 17, were used as end points. Differences in DNA/RNA yield and purity were noticed among the commercial kits. Nucleic acids (particularly RNA) extracted from paraffin blocks were degraded, even at lower fixation times. Compared to samples held in the commercial storage reagent, archived tissues showed a poorer amplification. Therefore, a gold standard protocol for DNA/RNA isolation from canine tumor FFPE blocks for molecular investigations is still troublesome. More standardized storage conditions, including time between sample acquisition and fixation, fixation time, and sample thickness, are needed to guarantee the preservation of nucleic acids and, then, their possible use in retrospective transcriptomic analysis.

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