Classic and alternative red blood cell storage strategies: seven years of "-omics" investigations.

Abstract

significant update of all regulatory aspects concerning transfusion medicine activities in Italy, including the establishment of a nationally co-ordinated blood system consistent with the autonomy of regional authorities 1 . The aim was to identify homogeneous standards of quality and safety nationwide 1 . In this setting, the newly born Italian National Blood Centre was to be responsible for all technical and scientific aspects related to transfusion medicine issues, including (i) blood and blood product self-sufficiency; (ii) blood quality and safety; (iii) appropriate utilisation of blood resources; (iv) accreditation and funding of transfusion medicine activities; (v) a national blood information system; (vi) technology assessment; (vii) external quality assessment; (viii) a national haemovigilance network; (ix) control of medical products deriving from human plasma; (x) inspections and controls of the plasma-derivative industry; (xi) education and scientific research in transfusion medicine, and (xii) promotion of voluntary, non-remunerated, responsible and periodic blood donation 1 . In the light of such an ambitious agenda, the National Blood Centre started an extensive series of scientific initiatives, including an extensive collaboration with the laboratory of proteomics and metabolomics at Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy. The present review summarises the main outcomes of this joint effort, while putting the results in the broader framework of laboratory research in the field of transfusion medicine, with a special focus on the storage of red blood cell (RBC) concentrates. -Omics and transfusion medicine: first contacts and rendezvous