Rethinking Normal Saline: Is It the Best Solution for Washing Salvaged Blood?
Gerard J. Myers, Cardiovascular Perfusionist and Legal Perfusion Expert Witness at Eastern Perfusion International, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“The most common solution for washing salvaged blood during autotransfusion is 0.9% Normal Saline. But normal saline is not that normal. It is cheaper than other more physiological solutions like Plasmalyte A, but is it the best solution to wash salvaged blood. In fact, if invented today, would it even pass FDA standards.
This article by Blumberg et al (Transfus Apher Sci, 2018)explains why the solution is not normal and suggests it not be used for washing red blood cells during autotransfusion.”
Title: 0.9% NaCl (Normal Saline) – Perhaps not so normal after all?
Authors: Neil Blumberg, Jill M. Cholette, Anthony P. Pietropaoli, Richard Phipps, Sherry L. Spinelli, Michael P. Eaton, Suzie A. Noronha, Jerard Seghatchian, Joanna M. Heal, Majed A. Refaai

Stay updated with Hemostasis Today.
-
Jan 14, 2026, 16:22Leo Nicolai and Rainer Kaiser Link Procoagulant Platelets and Thromboinflammation in CVD
-
Jan 14, 2026, 16:01Renato Simonetti Presents a Pilot Project on AI-assisted Duplex Sonography for ICH
-
Jan 14, 2026, 15:47An Unusual Case from Mohammed Ameen: Unexpected Clot Unmasking Antithrombin III Deficiency
-
Jan 14, 2026, 11:38Khokon Miah Akanda Shares A major 4-Guideline Comparison on BP Management in Stroke
-
Jan 14, 2026, 11:26Pablo Albasanz-García and Colleagues on Anticancer Treatment-Induced Arterial and Venous Thrombosis
-
Jan 14, 2026, 11:16ISTH 2026: Laurent Bertoletti To Serve as Vice Theme Leader for VTE
-
Jan 14, 2026, 11:08Leni von Bonsdorff Invites You to Hear and Learn The Latest News in The Plasma Field
-
Jan 14, 2026, 05:56Arun V J on The “Whole Blood” Nostalgia Trap
-
Jan 13, 2026, 16:38Caitlin Raymond: Understanding TAMOF as a TTP-Like Process
