The preservation of blood for transfusion. IX. The effect of increased pH and addition of inosine only or adenine and inosine on the red cell function.

Abstract The additive effects of increased pH of anticoagulant solutions and addition of inosine or adenine and inosine were investigated. Collection of blood in acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD), pH 5.3, and addition of inosine at zero time to obtain a concentration of 60 micromoles per gram of hemoglobin maintains the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) at a level found in fresh blood, or above it, for at least 28 days. Adenine and inosine added at zero time also have a significant effect, but no better than inosine alone. The level of 2,3-DPG is directly proportional to the amount of inosine added, but increasing the concentration of inosine above 60 micromoles per gram of hemoglobin does not improve the maintenance of 2,3-DPG. Collection of blood in ACD, pH 5.6, is not as good for satisfactory maintenance of adenosine triphosphate as at pH 5.3. Addition of adenine to blood stored for 2 weeks in ACD, pH 5.3, with inosine had no effect.