RBC Units and Hemolysis: The Quality Indicator that Says it All
Maxime Dely, Sales and Application Specialist in Therapeutic Apheresis and Cell Therapy, posted on LinkedIn:
”RBC Units and Hemolysis: the quality indicator that says it all
Red Blood Cell (RBC) concentrates are among the most sensitive blood components. Their integrity is shaped at every step of the transfusion chain – and hemolysis remains the most telling indicator of overall product quality.
International guidelines are clear:
• ≤ 0.8 % hemolysis at end of storage (European standards)
• ≤ 1 5according to AABB guidelines
These thresholds highlight the importance of protecting the erythrocyte membrane from cumulative stress.
1. Mechanical factors
Red cells are highly sensitive to physical stress:
• Too fast transfer of the RBC concentrate through the break-away cannula
• Kinking of the tubing during component separation
• Overly aggressive or poorly calibrated centrifugation
• Wrong sampling procedure
Such mechanical stresses create micro-lesions that can significantly increase hemolysis during storage.
2. Thermal factors
Thermal control is critical:
• Storage temperature too low
• Repeated fluctuations in the cold chain
• Thermal shock during collection or environmental transitions
Rapid variations weaken membrane stability and increase permeability.
3. Storage-related factors
Over time, several changes accumulate:
• Insufficient mixing with anticoagulant during collection
• Medium acidification
• Increased oxidative stress
• Reduced ATP levels, essential for membrane flexibility and resilience
Controlling hemolysis means protecting the RBC unit at every moment. A small percentage… that speaks volumes about quality.”
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