Joseph H. Akeroyd

Simple Methods of Storage of Human Erythrocytes in Liquid Nitrogen: Comparative Study of the Agglutinability of Erythrocytes of the ABO Blood Groups Preserved by Various Methods

Small samples of blood for daily serological use were stored in a liquid nitrogen refrigerator either as blood‐sand pellets or on squares of wire screen in specially constructed metal storage‐cylinders. When thawed at 40 C., these samples yielded excellent recoveries of red cells generally with no evidence of hemolysis. Comparison of the agglutinability of red cells representative of the ABO groups by the 50 per cent hemagglutination end‐point assay method showed that the original hemagglutinating activity of the cell was retained 100 per cent after storage frozen in liquid nitrogen for two years and in glycerol for nine months. In contrast to this, a gradual loss of approximately 50 per cent agglutinability was noted with cells from these same donors stored in ACD or DCS (dextrose‐citrate‐sodium chloride) solutions at 10 C. for 33 days.

Survival of Group AB Red Cells in a Group A Recipient

A young man was given eleven units of group AB blood in error. He was eventually shown to be of group A. Two remarkable facets of the case were the absence of any serious reaction in the patient and the survival of a small and gradually decreasing number of group AB cells in the patients circulation for a period of six weeks following the last transfusion of incompatible blood. The survival of these cells in the presence of demonstrable destructive antibodies is a proof of the heterogeneity of red cells and their specific antibodies.