The in vitro quality of red blood cells frozen with 40 percent (wt/vol) glycerol at −80°C for 14 years, deglycerolized with the Haemonetics ACP 215, and stored at 4°C in additive solution‐1 or additive solution‐3 for up to 3 weeks

BACKGROUND:  Red blood cells (RBCs) frozen with 40 percent (wt/vol) glycerol, stored at −80°C (mean temperature; range, −65 to −90°C) for 14 years, deglycerolized in the Haemonetics automated cell processor (ACP) 215 with the 325-mL disposable bowl, and stored at 4°C in additive solution (AS)-1 or AS-3 for 21 days were evaluated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  A total of 106 units of citrate phosphate dextrose adenine-1 RBCs were frozen with 40 percent (wt/vol) glycerol in the original 800-mL polyvinylchloride plastic bag and stored in corrugated cardboard boxes at −80°C for 14 years. The thawed units were deglycerolized with the ACP 215 with a 325-mL disposable bowl and stored in AS-1 or AS-3 at 4°C for 21 days. RESULTS:  The freeze-thaw recovery value was 94 ± 4 percent (mean ± SD), the freeze-thaw-wash recovery value was 80 ± 7 percent, and there was no breakage. Thirty-eight units were processed as 19 pairs. Two units of ABO-matched units were thawed, pooled, divided equally into two units, and deglycerolized. One unit was stored in AS-1 and the other in AS-3 at 4°C for 21 days. Units stored in AS-1 exhibited significantly greater hemolysis than those stored in AS-3. CONCLUSIONS:  Acceptable results were achieved when RBCs frozen at −80°C for 14 years were deglycerolized in the ACP 215. Deglycerolized RBCs in AS-1 exhibited significantly higher hemolysis than those in AS-3 after storage at 4°C for 7 to 21 days.