The Effects of Pre-Storage Leukoreduction on the Conservation of Bovine Whole Blood in Plastic Bags

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Blood transfusion is a life-saving veterinary therapeutic procedure. While fractionated blood components are used in humans, whole blood is most commonly used in animals, especially for farm animals. Whole blood contains white blood cells that can cause a transfusion reaction in animals. Here, we proposed that using a blood bag with leukocyte filtration is sufficient for blood conservation under field conditions and thus can be an option for transfusion medicine in the case of farm animals. The filtered bag was efficient in removing white cells from cattle whole blood and could be used under field conditions. Blood stored after white blood cells were removed showed less acidic load. Further experimental studies are required to prove that blood without white cells results in a decrease in transfusion reactions in cattle. ABSTRACT: Leukoreduction (LR) is a technique that consists of reducing the number of leukocytes in whole blood or blood components that can contribute to decreasing storage lesions and the occurrence of post-transfusion complications. We propose that using a blood bag with pre-storage leukocyte filtration is sufficient for blood conservation under field conditions. Ten healthy Nelore cows were used. Whole blood was sampled from each animal and stored at 2 to 6 °C in CPD/SAG-M (citrate phosphate dextrose bag with a saline, adenine, glucose, mannitol satellite bag) triple bags (Control) and in CPD/SAG-M quadruple bags with a leukocyte filter (Filter). At baseline and after 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days (D0, D7, D14, D21, D28, D35, and D42, respectively), complete hematological, blood gas, and biochemical evaluations were determined. The filtered bag removed 99.3% of white blood cells from cattle blood, and the entire filtration process was performed in the field. There was a reduction in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) in both groups from D14 onward, with a decrease of 19.7% and 17.1% at D42 for the Control and Filter bags, respectively. The hemoglobin (Hb) concentration had variation in both groups. Potassium, pO(2), pCO(2), and sO(2) increased, and sodium, bicarbonate, and pH decreased during storage. The filtered bag was efficient in removing white cells from cattle whole blood and could be used under field conditions. Blood stored after LR showed differences (p < 0.05) in blood gas analysis towards a better quality of stored blood (e.g., higher pH, lower pCO(2), higher sO(2)). Further experimental studies are required to prove that blood without white cells results in a decrease in transfusion reactions in cattle.