Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
DOI: 10.58739/jcbs/v16i2.25.365
Year: 2026, Volume: 16, Issue: 2, Pages: 52-57
Original Article
Sarvek Bajaj1*, Ajay Kumar Kochhar2, Sumit Kamboj3, Karandeep Singh4, Swaranjeet Soni5
1Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha, Hisar, Haryana, India.
2Professor, Department of Pathology, Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha, Hisar, Haryana, India.
3Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Sirsa, Haryana, India.
4Professor, Department of Pathology, Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha, Hisar, Haryana, India.
5Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha, Hisar, Haryana, India.
*Corresponding Author
Email: [email protected]
Received Date:08 October 2025, Accepted Date:16 December 2025, Published Date:15 June 2026
Background: The availability of safe and high-quality blood products hinges on effective storage systems. However, extended storage of red blood cells (RBCs) leads to biochemical and hematological alterations known as storage lesions, which can compromise transfusion efficacy and patient safety. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of storage duration and blood bag type (single, double, triple, and leukofilter CPD-SAGM) on biochemical and hematological parameters of stored RBC units over 28 days. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 150 blood units collected and stored under standard conditions. Parameters including plasma sodium, potassium, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hematocrit, and total leukocyte count (TLC) were measured at multiple intervals over a 28-day period using standardized biochemical and hematological analyzers. Results: Significant biochemical changes were observed across all bag types: plasma potassium and LDH levels increased, while sodium levels decreased during storage (p < 0.001). Hematocrit showed a significant decline in non-leukoreduced units, while leukofilter bags maintained relatively stable values. TLC dropped significantly in leukoreduced units after processing, confirming the effectiveness of leukoreduction. Leukofilter bags consistently demonstrated lower biochemical deterioration and hemolysis markers compared to non-leukoreduced counterparts. Conclusion: Red cell storage induces progressive changes that can impact transfusion safety. Leukoreduction significantly mitigates these effects, as evidenced by lower potassium and LDH levels and better preservation of hematocrit. The use of leukofilter CPD-SAGM bags is recommended to improve the biochemical and hematological quality of stored blood, particularly for high-risk patients.
Keywords: Red blood cells, Blood storage, Leukoreduction, Potassium, LDH, Hematocrit, storage lesions, Transfusion safety
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Published By Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education, Kolar, Karnataka
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