Experiences with Frozen Erythrocytes in a Private Hospital

Abstract

Frozen erythrocytes can provide a valuable addition to many blood banks for better patient care. Exaggerated fears concerning cost and complexity have frightened many blood bankers from consideration of a frozen erythrocyte program for their hospital blood bank. This type of program promotes improved blood banking as it emphasizes the need for increased utilization of specific blood components in hemotherapy. Since better inventory control is achieved, the patient is more likely to receive the desired component when needed. Erythrocytes containing optimal levels of DPG and ATP always are available. As compared to ordinary whole blood, frozen erythrocytes markedly reduce the incidence of febrile and hypersensitivity reactima, and the incidence of hepatitis may be reduced. A frozen erythrocyte program is also advantageous in that an autotransfusion program can be developed successfully and blood from selected d e nom lacking certain antigens can be stored for future transfusions to patients presenting problems.

Frozen Blood and Transfusion-Transmitted Hepatitis C Virus

“…The potential role of frozen RBC in the prevention of post-transfusion hepati tis was first suggested by Tullis et al [16], but, although he found no case of hepatitis after transfusion of frozen red cells, the number of cases in the control group was consid ered too small for the data to be conclusive. Other retro spective clinical reports suggested a beneficial effect [11,12,27,28]. In contrast, Alter et al [29] showed that hu man red cells dosed with HBV could still transmit hepati tis B to chimpanzees after freezing.…”