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Investigation of the quality of stored red blood cells after simulated air drop in the maritime environment
Author(s) -
Meli Athinoula,
Hancock Vicky,
Doughty Heidi,
Smedley Steve,
Cardigan Rebecca,
Wiltshire Michael
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/trf.14403
Subject(s) - hemolysis , drop (telecommunication) , drop test , hemoglobin , blood preservation , red blood cell , chemistry , environmental science , biomedical engineering , surgery , toxicology , medicine , andrology , biochemistry , immunology , biology , engineering , mechanical engineering , structural engineering
BACKGROUND Maritime medical capability may be compromised by blood resupply. Air‐dropped red blood cells (RBCs) is a possible mitigation factor. This study set out to evaluate RBC storage variables after a simulated parachute air drop into the sea, as limited data exist. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS The air load construction for the air drop of blood was subject to static drop assessment to simulate a worst‐case parachute drop scenario. One control and two test Golden Hour shipping containers were each packaged with 10 RBC units. The control box was not dropped; Test Boxes 1 and 2 were further reinforced with waterproof boxes and underwent a simulated air drop on Day 7 or Day 8 postdonation, respectively. One day after the drop and once a week thereafter until Day 43 of storage, RBCs from each box were sampled and tested for full blood counts, hemolysis, adenosine triphosphate, 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate, pH, extracellular potassium, glucose, lactate, deformability, and RBC microvesicles. RESULTS The packaging configuration completed the air drop with no water ingress or physical damage. All units met UK specifications for volume, hemoglobin, and hemolysis. There were no significant differences for any of the variables studied between RBCs in the control box compared to RBCs in Test Boxes 1 and 2 combined over storage. CONCLUSION The test proved that the packaging solution and the impact of a maritime air drop as performed in this study, on Day 7 or Day 8 postdonation, did not affect the in vitro quality of RBCs in SAGM over storage for 35 days.