Frozen Blood Research Articles

The Evaluation and Manipulation of Different Kits for Isolation of High-quality RNA from Frozen Blood

The Evaluation and Manipulation of Different Kits for Isolation of High-quality RNA from Frozen Blood

The Social Life of Frozen Blood - Joanna Radin, Life on Ice: A History of New Uses for Cold Blood (Chicago, The University Chicago Press)

The Social Life of Frozen Blood - Joanna Radin, Life on Ice: A History of New Uses for Cold Blood (Chicago, The University Chicago Press)

Frozen blood clots can be used for the diagnosis of distinct Plasmodium species in man and non-human primates from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

BackgroundZoonotic infections with epidemic potential, as non-human primate malaria and yellow fever (YF), can overlap geographically. Optimizing a small blood sample for diagnosis and surveillance is of great importance. Blood are routinely collected for YF diagnosis and blood clots usually discarded after serum obtention. Aiming to take sample advantage, the sensitivity of a PCR using extracted DNA from long-term frozen clots from human and non-human primates for detection of Plasmodium spp. in low parasitaemia conditions was assayed.ResultsMalaria diagnosis with DNA extracted from blood clots generated results in agreement with samples obtained with whole blood, including mixed Plasmodium vivax/simium and Plasmodium malariae/brasilianum infections.ConclusionBlood clots from human and non-human primates may be an important and low cost source of DNA for malaria surveillance in the Atlantic Forest.

Chemotherapy without the hair loss

Injections of a hair-promoting protein may be enough to prevent people undergoing chemotherapy from losing their hair. Hair loss is one of the most feared side effects of chemotherapy. In one study, around B per cent of women said they had considered refusing treatment to save their locks. There are few options available. Scalp-cooling caps freeze and constrict blood vessels to stop chemo drugs from flowing into hair follicles. But they are expensive, work for only 50 per cent of people, extend treatment by two hours and cause discomfort and headaches.

Isolation Methods of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Spanish Biobanks: An Overview.

The Spanish Hematic Derivatives Group, consisting of 26 biobanks, was established in 2011. We describe here the viability results of our publically available standard operating procedure to freeze and thaw peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Our protocol maximizes PBMC viability while avoiding where possible interbiobank and intrabiobank assay variability.

Experiences with Frozen Blood Products in the Netherlands Military

Experiences with Frozen Blood Products in the Netherlands Military

Collections d’échantillons biologiques autochtones et cryopolitique de la vie congelée

In the mid-twentieth century, scientists began to collect and freeze blood samples for a range of purposes. This article considers the broader implications of scientific freezing for time and life by drawing on interviews with scientists associated with a large collection of samples collected from Indigenous Australians in the 1960s. We first review some key critiques of cryopreservation posed by Indigenous scholars and by science and technology studies. We then propose “cryopolitics” as a concept to express the various political, ethical and temporal conundrums presented by the practice of freezing. We frame cryopolitics as a mode of Michel Foucault’s biopolitics. If biopolitical assemblages make live and let die, cryopolitical ones reveal the dramatic consequences of mundane efforts to make live and not let die. In our case study, we argue that frozen blood vacillates between two cryopolitical states, “latent life” and “incomplete death”. Samples seen as latent life contain infinite potential and cannot be destroyed; samples understood as incomplete death demand destruction.

Indigenous biospecimen collections and the cryopolitics of frozen life

In the mid-20th century, scientists began to collect and freeze blood samples for a range of purposes. This article considers the broader implications of scientific freezing for conceptions of time and life by drawing on empirical research with scientists associated with a large collection of samples assembled from Indigenous Australians in the 1960s. We first review some key critiques of cryopreservation posed by Indigenous scholars and by science and technology studies. We then propose ‘cryopolitics’ as a concept to express the various political, ethical and temporal conundrums presented by the practice of freezing. We frame cryopolitics as a mode of Michel Foucault’s biopolitics. If biopolitical assemblages make live and let die, cryopolitical ones reveal the dramatic consequences of mundane efforts to make live and not let die. In our case study, we argue that frozen blood vacillates between two cryopolitical states, ‘latent life’ and ‘incomplete death’. Samples seen as latent life cannot be destroyed; samples understood as incomplete death require destruction. A state of incomplete death can be resolved through the return of blood samples to the Indigenous groups they were collected from, a process that has occurred in North America. Our cryopolitical analysis suggests another potential resolution: reviving a form of latent life aligned with futures envisaged by Indigenous communities themselves.

Molecular detection of Plasmodium in free-ranging birds and captive flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) in Chicago.

Frozen blood samples from 13 species of free-ranging birds (n = 65) and captive Chilean flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) (n = 46) housed outdoors in the Chicago area were screened for Plasmodium. With the use of a modified polymerase chain reaction, 20/65 (30.8%) of free-ranging birds and 26/46 (56.5%) of flamingos were classified as positive for this parasite genus. DNA sequencing of the parasite cytochrome b gene in positive samples demonstrated that eight species of free-ranging birds were infected with five different Plasmodium spp. cytochrome b lineages, and all positive Chilean flamingos were infected with Plasmodium spp. cytochrome b lineages most closely related to organisms in the Novyella subgenus. These results show that Chilean flamingos may harbor subclinical malaria infections more frequently than previously estimated, and that they may have increased susceptibility to some Plasmodium species.

Frozen blood and lessons learned from 9/11.

Frozen blood and lessons learned from 9/11.

UP-02.188 Comparing PSA and Free PSA Serum Levels in Fresh and Frozen Blood Samples

UP-02.188 Comparing PSA and Free PSA Serum Levels in Fresh and Frozen Blood Samples

Rare gems: null phenotypes of blood groups.

Rare gems: null phenotypes of blood groups.

Rapid and Simple Measurement of Retinol in Human Dried Whole Blood Spots

We describe an improved method for the measurement of retinol in dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper. Retinol in human DBS on filter paper was analyzed by normal phase HPLC after a simple extraction method. Retinol associated with its binding protein was eluted from the paper into aqueous solution facilitated by ultrasonic agitation. Retinol associated with retinol binding protein was denatured with acetonitrile, and then retinol was isolated in a single hexane extract and analyzed directly by HPLC. When analyzing DBS, the individual plasma volume of the spots was calculated by measuring the sodium content or by weighing the blood spots. The described method yielded low intra- and interassay variability (<6%), with sufficient sensitivity (detection limit, 0.1 micromol/L) and good recovery (97% spike). Compared with matching plasma samples, DBS retinol consistently decreased 18-23% during the 1st wk of storage. After 1 wk, retinol remained stable in the blood spots at 23 degrees C for >3 mo. In conclusion, the analysis of retinol in DBS by HPLC is comparable to retinol analysis in serum. The variability of the method was reduced by using sodium concentration to estimate sample volume. Collection of DBS for retinol analysis is appropriate under field conditions, where it is difficult to centrifuge or freeze blood samples.

Extraction of RNA from fresh and frozen blood.

AbstractWhole blood contains nucleated white cells that constitute an easily accessible source from which RNA can be extracted, without the need for prior homogemzation as is necessary with solid tissues. However, blood is a particularly problematic tissue from which to isolate RNA because RNA is extremely prone to degradation by ribonucleases, of which red cells are a rich source. Furthermore, blood constituents or their derivatives may inhibit PCR reactions (1) RNA extraction from blood is therefore usually more successful if the nucleated white cells are first isolated from the red cells. As with extraction from other tissues, it is important to minimize degradation by following the appropriate recommendations for handling RNA, as detailed in the methodology below.KeywordsTrisodium CitrateGuanidinium ThiocyanateBlood ConstituentChaotropic AgentHigh Molecular Weight BandThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Frozen blood is a superior blood product for cancer patients

Frozen blood is a superior blood product for cancer patients

Preparation and usefulness of frozen blood.

Red blood cell freezing is now practiced widely. Advantages of deglycerolized red cells over whole blood or packed cells include indefinite preservation, leukocyte destruction and removal, and plasma removal. Deglycerolized red cells are a purer blood component than whole blood or conventional red cells.

Preparation and Usefulness of Frozen Blood

Preparation and Usefulness of Frozen Blood

Les infections post-transfusionnelles à cytomégalovirus du nouveau-né

Post-transfusional cytomegalovirus infection (P.T.C.M.V.) represents a minor part (perhaps about 0.2%) when compared with C.M.V. infections or maternal origin (congenital 0.2-0.5% - post-natal first year 20%). However P.T.C.M.V. infections are associated with higher morbidity and mortality because: These infections develop in infants born from uninfected mothers (C.M.V. sero-negative mothers). These newborns have no passively acquired antibodies from maternal origin which probably prevent or limit the spreading of P.T.C.M.V. infection in infants born from C.M.V. seropositive mothers. Transfused newborns are essentially recruited among great premature infants. The transfusional needs of these newborns are great: many of them receive more than ten micro-transfusions of red blood cells during their hospitalisation period. So the risk for developing C.M.V. infection is high (10-20%). The limited immune competence of these newborns and the fact that many already suffer from other developmental defects explain the severity of these P.T.C.M.V. infections. This contrasts with the well-supported C.M.V. infections post-natally acquired in term newborns. Prevention of P.T.C.M.V. infections is possible (A. Yeager, 1981) when using blood from C.M.V. sero-negative donors. Frozen blood appears also effective. It is highly desirable that blood Transfusion Centers permit such a prevention for red blood cells transfusion or exchange-transfusion in newborns less than 1 500 g B.W. and for intra-uterine transfusions.

A Safe, Rapid Method for Thawing Frozen Blood

Water baths are a source of possible contamination when thawing frozen blood. A new method of thawing frozen products is described that involves the use of a water mixer and a flow-through tank. Using this method, rapid thawing of frozen blood is achieved with none of the hazards of contamination.

Dominant effect of transfusions on kidney graft survival.

The number of pretransplant blood transfusions influences the graft survival of cadaver kidney transplants more than HLA-A and B matching, preformed lymphocytotoxic antibodies, or center variation. At 1 year the graft survival rate in patients with more than 20 packed cells transfusions was over 30% higher than that in nontransfused recipients (75 +/- 5% versus 41 +/- 2%, P less than 0.0001). Recipients with on packed cell transfusion had a 59 +/- 5% 1-year graft survival rate. Frozen blood and any transfusions given at the time of surgery were relatively ineffective. Pretransplant pregnancies had no significant effect on graft outcome. The improvement effect of transfusions was significant in each of the last four calendar years (1975, P less than 0.001; 1976, P less than 0.01; 1977, P less than 0.0001; 1978, P less than 0.0001). Yet, the percentage of nontransfused recipients has remained almost unchanged over the years. A preliminary survey of transplants done from January to April 1979 showed that one-third of the recipients had not been transfused. A change in transfusion policy is indicated to improve the results of cadaver kidney transplantation.