Cryopreservation of Erythrocytes, Thrombocytes, and Lymphocytes

The cryopreservation of blood cells can be regarded as a classical field of development and application of low temperature biology. Cryopreservation methods have been developed for erythrocytes, which are commonly frozen with glycerol as the cryoprotective additive although hydroxyethyl starch (HES) shows considerable promise. Cryopreserved erythrocytes for transfusion are of advantage in the case of patients with rare blood groups, adverse antibody problems, autologous use and civil as well as military disasters. Additionally they can be used for blood typing, antibody screening and compatibility testing. Cryopreservation methods for thrombocytes, lymphocytes and hematopoietic stem cells usually involve dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the cryoprotective additive. Low temperature preservation of thrombocytes offers the possibility of making HPA- and/or HLA-typed platelet concentrates available in blood banks at any time. The use of cryopreserved lymphocytes is well established and a routine procedure for clinical laboratory testing. Recently there is a growing clinical interest in cryopreserved lymphocytes in addition to hematopoietic progenitor cells for the supplemental treatment of patients after blood stem cell transplantation. Despite occasional reports, it is our opinion that no clinically suitable method for the preservation of human granulocytes has been developed so far.