Effects of irradiation on red cells stored in CPDA-1 and CPD-ADSOL (AS-1)

Red blood cells (pRBC) collected in citrate, phosphate, dextrose, adenine-formula 1 (CPDA-1) and citrate, phosphate, dextrose-adenine, manitol saline solution (CPD-ADSOL (AS-1)) anticoagulants are increasingly being stored for variable periods in transfusion service inventories following irradiation. While anecdotal reports of increased K+ following irradiation and storage have recently appeared in the literature, concomitant in vitro biochemical changes resulting from differences in anticoagulants have not been reported. Utilizing two venipunctures, two units each of 225 mL of blood from five volunteers were collected in anticoagulant-adjusted CPDA-1 and AS-1 bags. Within two hours of collection, each unit was equally divided. One of each pair was irradiated (2000 rads). Samples were analyzed on Days 0, 1, 3, 7, and every seven days to expiration. Irradiation resulted in a 2.3 fold increase in K+ during the first seven days of storage for both anticoagulants, although significantly greater K+ levels were observed in the CPDA-1 pairs compared to the AS-1 pairs. Comparison of glucose utilization, plasma free hemoglobin, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and lactate dehydrogenase between control and irradiated CPDA-1 and AS-1 pairs and between anticoagulants were documented.