Radiation of packed red blood cells (pRBCs): Extending the timeframe to 42 days instead of 14 days post-manufacturing

Transfusion-associated Graft-versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD) poses a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals receiving blood product transfusions. Employing radiation at a mean dose of 30 Gy (to ensure 25 Gy for the product) effectively suppresses the proliferation of lymphocytes within the product. According to guidelines, packed Red Blood Cells (pRBCs) should not exceed 14 days in storage post-radiation exposure or before undergoing radiation. Our investigation evaluated the impact of radiation on pRBCs stored for up to 28 days prior to irradiation.Transfusion-associated Graft-versus-Host Disease (TA-GVHD) poses a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals receiving blood product transfusions. Employing radiation at a mean dose of 30 Gy (to ensure 25 Gy for the product) effectively suppresses the proliferation of lymphocytes within the product. According to guidelines, packed Red Blood Cells (pRBCs) should not exceed 14 days in storage post-radiation exposure or before undergoing radiation. Our investigation evaluated the impact of radiation on pRBCs stored for up to 28 days prior to irradiation.All pRBCs met the quality standards as per the guidelines, regardless of the radiation timing. After a initial storage period of 28 days before radiation, pRBCs were stored for another 14 days before evaluatrion of quality parameters. After 42 days, the average volume was 279 ml (ranging from 250 to 329 ml), and the mean hematocrit was 0.66 l/l (ranging from 0.61 to 0.73 l/l). Both total hemoglobin (53.1 g/unit [44.8-62.8 g/unit]) and free hemoglobin (0.52 g/unit [0.29-0.79 g/unit]) were within the acceptable guideline ranges. The potassium level, an indicator of red blood cell damage, did not exhibit any significantly high values (70.7 mmol/l [64.8-76.9 mmol/l]). Due to the later radiation timing, none of the measured parameters showed any adverse effects.We demonstrated that prolonging the temporal window for the routine radiation of pRBCs from 14 days to 42 days, as supported by our gathered data, carries no adverse implications.no conflict of interest