Evaluation of Membrane Systems for Washing/Deglycerolizing Packed Red Blood Cells
Abstract
The objective of this contract is to develop a membrane-based process for deglycerolizing previously frozen, packed red blood cells (RBCs) prior to transfusion. This membrane-based process should reduce the glycerol concentration in the RBC solution in 35 to 45 minutes. During the first year of the contract, we successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using commercially available membrane devices (hemodialyzers, hemofilters, and plasmapheresis devices) to deglycerolize packed RBCs. Some of the devices removed the glycerol in less than 30 minutes. The membrane devices removed the glycerol more efficiently from previously frozen RBCs than from the glycerol-equilibrated packed RBCs that are routinely used in our studies. At least five units of packed RBCs can be effectively deglycerolized in a single membrane device. As expected, the flux and glycerol-removal rate can be increased by increasing the transmembrane pressure and blood-flow rate in the membrane device. During parametric studies, we found that the deglycerolization process is not limited by the membrane. We also identified the roller pump in our test loop as a major cause of hemolysis during membrane-based deglycerolization.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 20, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADB113371
Entities
People
- J. M. Radovich
- K. R. Pearson
- R. J. Wedel