Abstract
The cryopreservation of blood cells can be regarded as aclassical field of development and application of lowtemperature biology. Cryopreservation methods havebeen developed for erythrocytes, which are commonlyfrozen with glycerol as the cryoprotective additive althoughhydroxyethyl starch (HES) shows considerablepromise. Cryopreserved erythrocytes for transfusion areof advantage in the case of patients with rare bloodgroups, adverse antibody problems, autologous use andcivil as well as military disasters. Additionally they canbe used for blood typing, antibody screening and compatibilitytesting. Cryopreservation methods for thrombocytes,lymphocytes and hematopoietic stem cells usuallyinvolve dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the cryoprotectiveadditive. Low temperature preservation of thrombocytesoffers the possibility of making HPA- and/orHLA-typed platelet concentrates available in blood banksat any time. The use of cryopreserved lymphocytes iswell established and a routine procedure for clinicallaboratory testing. Recently there is a growing clinicalinterest in cryopreserved lymphocytes in addition tohematopoietic progenitor cells for the supplementaltreatment of patients after blood stem cell transplantation.Despite occasional reports, it is our opinion that noclinically suitable method for the preservation of humangranulocytes has been developed so far.
Published Version
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