Red Cell Changes as Observed by a Simple Method for Continuously Recording Osmotic Fragility

Storage of human blood for six to eight weeks in ACD solution resulted in definite hemolysis which paralleled an increase in osmotic fragility determined by a new method. Mechanical injury as a result of delivering blood by airdrop markedly aggravated this hemolysis. Whole blood stored for six weeks in ACD solution with adenine added had less overt hemolysis, less osmotic fragility and better posttransfusion survival than blood from the same subject stored only in ACD solution. Comparison of changes in the osmotic fragility of stored red blood cells showed good correlation with in vivo survival measurements and suggested that this method of testing might be useful in programs to evaluate the effect of additives on the viability of banked blood.