ABSTRACT
Packed red cells are prepared through differential centrifugation with an average volume of 250 cc, corresponding to a hematocrit level of 60-80%. PRBCs have a shelf life of approximately 35-42 days when stored in preservation solutions containing citrate which chelates calcium. A number of authors have studied the biochemistry of corpuscular and cytosolic changes during storage. RBCs undergo a marked depletion in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate as well as adenosine triphosphate. Furthermore, their morphology
changes from biconcave discs to spheroechinocytes as a result of membrane changes, lipid peroxidation, and membrane phospholipids vesiculation.(13) The net biochemical effect may lead to adverse clinical consequences in oxygen delivery.
