Effect of red blood cell preservation by droplet freezing with non‐permeable cryoprotective agents in blood group antigen reactivity

Abstract

The establishment of detailed protocols for cryopreservation of RBCs, which take into account the maintenance of antigenic characteristics, is necessary to increase security in pre-transfusion testing using frozen RBCs.

When I need you most: frozen red blood cells for transfusion

“…When small volumes of blood need to be frozen (mainly for future serological tests), droplet freezing, a method for RBC preservation in small, individual droplets is common. This technique minimally affects RBC antigenicity [50], while the recovery of polyvinylpyrrolidone supplemented RBCs is acceptable [51]. Last, but not least, freeze drying (lyophilization) of RBCs has been suggested as an alternative way to overtake problems like the complicated transportation of frozen samples.…”