Use of Separated Human Red Cells

Abstract

DURING the last decade the use of preserved whole blood has become accepted practice. The majority of hospitals now operate blood banks, obtaining blood from the American National Red Cross or by individual recruitment. The standard collecting solution is acid citrate dextrose (ACD),¹ which has preservative qualities sufficient to permit safe usage of properly refrigerated whole blood up to twenty-one days.² ACD blood differs significantly from the normal in several important respects. Since it is a diluted blood one must infuse a volume of 575 cc. to administer the components of 500 cc. of blood. The solution contains 16.8 milliequiv. . . .