Physical and thermal properties of blood storage bags: implications for shipping frozen components on dry ice

• Published in: Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 42; no. 7; pp. 836 - 846
• Main Authors: Hmel, Peter J., Kennedy, Anthony, Quiles, John G., Gorogias, Martha, Seelbaugh, Joseph P., Morrissette, Craig R., Van Ness, Kenneth, Reid, T.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA, USA Blackwell Publishing, Inc 01.07.2002; Blackwell Publishing
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Preservation - economics; Blood Preservation - methods; Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis; Costs and Cost Analysis; Cryopreservation - methods; Dry Ice; Humans; Materials Testing; Mechanics; Medical sciences; Product Packaging - economics; Product Packaging - standards; Temperature; Tensile Strength; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy; Transportation - methods; Thermal characteristic; Human; Cooling; Transfusion; Break; Red blood cell; Experimental study; Physical properties; Optimization; Blood; Container; Storage; Mechanical characteristic; Risk factor
• ISSN: 0041-1132; 1537-2995
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.2002.00135.x

BACKGROUND: Frozen blood components are shipped on dry ice. The lower temperature (–70°C in contrast to usual storage at –30°C) and shipping conditions may cause a rent in the storage bag, breaking sterility and rendering the unit useless. The rate of loss can reach 50 to 80 percent. To identify those bags with lower probability of breaking during shipment, the thermal and physical properties of blood storage bags were examined. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood storage bags were obtained from several manufacturers and were of the following compositions: PVC with citrate, di‐2‐ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), or tri‐2‐ethylhexyl‐tri‐mellitate (TEHTM) plasticizer; polyolefin (PO); poly(ethylene‐co‐ vinyl acetate) (EVA); or fluorinated polyethylene propylene (FEP). The glass transition temperature (Tg) of each storage bag was determined. Bag thickness and measures of material strength (tensile modulus [MT] and time to achieve 0.5 percent strain [T0.5%]) were evaluated. MT and T0.5% measurements were made at 25 and –70°C. Response to applied force at –70°C was measured using an impact testing device and a drop test. RESULTS: The Tg of the bags fell into two groups: 70 to 105°C (PO, FEP) and –50 to –17°C (PVC with plasticizer, EVA). Bag thickness ranged from 0.14 to 0.41 mm. Compared to other materials, the ratios of MT and T0.5% for PVC bags were increased (p ≤ 0.001) indicating that structural changes for PVC were more pronounced upon cooling from 25 to −70°C. Bags containing EVA were more shock resistant, resulting in the lowest rate of breakage (10% breakage) when compared with PO (60% breakage, p = 0.0573) or PVC (100% breakage, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Blood storage bags made of EVA appear better suited for shipping frozen blood components on dry ice and are cost‐effective replacements for PVC bags. For the identification of blood storage bags meeting specific storage requirements, physical and thermal analyses of blood storage bags may be useful and remove empiricism from the process.