Health professionals

You’re now viewing the transfusion website. Visit:

  1. Products
  2. Blood components
  3. Red cells

Red cells

Submitted by admin on Mon, 2010-03-01 14:01
07 LRI Red cells.png

This component is obtained by removing most of the plasma after centrifuging whole blood collected into anticoagulant.

Red cells may be resuspended in other additives to prolong storage and are filtered to remove most leucocytes.

A red cell unit is divided into four packs of equal volume to create Red cells Paediatric Leucocyte Depleted. This is to reduce donor exposure for small paediatric transfusions and to minimise product wastage.

Washed leucocyte depleted red cells are prepared using a manual process that double washes leucodepleted red cells (<14 days old) with Saline Adenine Mannitol Glucose (SAG-M) solution to remove the majority of plasma proteins, antibodies and electrolytes.

The washed red cells are then resuspended in SAG-M solution to preserve their shelf life.

Red cells must be stored at 2 to 6 ºC and have a variable shelf life.

 

Typical unit content and specifications

The typical unit content data is derived from Lifeblood process control testing. For each parameter, the mean value(± 1 SD) and specification is shown.

Unless otherwise specified data is for the period 1 January to 31 December 2018.*

Red Cells Leucocyte Depleted

Volume (mL)
260 ± 15 (>220)
Haemoglobin (g/unit)
48 ± 5 (≥ 40)
Haematocrit (L/L)
0.58 ± 0.03 (0.50–0.70)
Haemolysis (% at expiry)
0.3 ± 0.1 (< 0.8)
Leucocyte count (106 /unit)
0.02 ± 0.07 (< 1.0)

Paediatric Red Cells Leucocyte Depleted

Volume (mL)
60 ± 4 (25–100)
Haemoglobin (g/unit)
(initial unit prior to splitting ≥ 40)
Haematocrit (L/L)
0.61 ± 0.04 (0.50–0.70)
Haemolysis (% at expiry)
0.2 ± 0.1 (< 0.8)
Leucocyte count (106 /unit)
(initial unit prior to splitting < 1.0)

Washed Red Cells Leucocyte Depleted*

Initial data for typical contents based on validation studies for new two-step SAG-M washing process.
*Data from 1 May to 31 Decembert 2018
 
 
Volume (mL)
258 ± 18 (> 130)
Haemoglobin (g/unit)
48 ± 5 (≥ 37)
Haematocrit (L/L)
0.62 ± 0.03 (0.50–0.70)
Haemolysis (% at expiry)
0.1 ± 0.1 (< 0.8)
Leucocyte count (106 /unit)
(initial unit prior to splitting <1.0)
Last wash supernatant total protein (g/unit)
0.02 ± 0.03 (< 0.5)

 

Availability

Leucodepleted red cells are available in Group O, A, B and AB, and RhD positive and RhD negative groups.
 

Modifications

Red cells can be phenotyped, washed, CMV-seronegative, frozen and irradiated.

 

Next page: Platelets >>

 

Updated on 30 March, 2020