Red blood cells are prepared for cryopreservation by adding glycerol to them as a protective agent.

Red blood cells frozen at −80°C have a 10-year shelf life. The storage period can be extended beyond 10 years following medical approval.

This product is deglycerolized through washing using a recognized method. Hematocrit is less than or equal to 0.80 L/L. Hemoglobin is greater than or equal to 35 g per bag. For an LBP that is not partially leuko-reduced before storage (before June 1999), almost all the plasma, anticoagulant, residual platelets, and leukocytes are eliminated during washing. Minimal amounts of cryoprotectant may remain in the product. The suspension medium is an injectable AS-3 solution as a preservative.

After thawing, the free hemoglobin in the supernatant from the last wash does not exceed 150 mg/dl. The presence of a pinkish supernatant is acceptable for transfusion; however, if the supernatant is dark red or cloudy, or both, the bag should be returned to the blood bank or to Héma-Québec for assessment.

Action

Deglycerolized red blood cells have a similar function and post-transfusion survival as AS-3/SAGM packed red blood cells.

Main indications

The transfusion indication of this product is the same as for AS-3/SAGM packed red blood cells. However, its use should be limited to specific situations, including:

• people with a rare blood type;
• people with an allo-antibody directed against a high-frequency antigen;
• people with multiple allo-antibodies.

Contraindications

The contraindications are the same as those for AS-3/SAGM packed red blood cells.

Dosage and administration

The dosage and administration are the same as those for AS-3/SAGM packed red blood cells.

The transfusion must be completed within four hours after the product leaves the controlled environment.

Storage

Deglycerolized red blood cells, when kept between 1°C and 6°C, have a shelf life of 24 hour or 7 days, depending on the freezing process used, and must be transfused before the expiry date and time indicated on the label.

In the event of a discrepancy between the information on this page and what is in the Circular of information, the latter will take precedence.