Storage Duration and Red Blood Cell-Derived Microparticles in Packed Red Blood Cells Obtained from Donors with Thalassemia.

Abstract

To address the effects of storage duration on red blood cell (RBC)-derived microparticles (RMPs) in packed RBCs from donors who have thalassemia. Packed RBCs were prepared according to laboratory routine. The quantity of RMPs was determined using FACSCalibur and counting beads. Across durations of storage, the packed RBCs from donors with thalassemia (n = 28) and healthy volunteers (n = 104) showed average RMPs to be 47,426 (10,139‒127,785) particles/μL vs 49,021 (13,033‒126,749) particles/μL, respectively (P = .63). The peak RMP levels in donors with thalassemia and healthy volunteers, respectively, were shown in products from storage days 34 and 38. Both groups showed a trend toward a positive association between RMP concentration and the duration of storage in packed RBC bags stored under blood bank conditions. Our results suggest that storage-induced RMP release has similar effects in stored packed RBCs obtained from both donors with thalassemia and healthy volunteers.