Blood, 1946, Vol. 1, No. 6, pp. 459-471.
© 1946 American Society of Hematology, Inc.
PRESERVATION OF NORMAL HUMAN PLASMA IN THE LIQUID
STATE
V. CLINICAL, CHEMICAL, AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL STUDIES DURING THREE YEARS
OF STORAGE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
EUGENE L. LOZNER Commander, Medical Corps, U.S.N.R.1,
SONIA LEMISH Lieutenant, H(W), U.S.N.R.1,
A. SUE CAMPBELL Lieutenant (junior grade), H(W), U.S.N.R.1, and
LLOYD R. NEWHOUSER Captain, Medical Corps, U.S.N.1
1 Naval Medical Research Institute and the Naval Medical School, National Naval Medical
Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
1. During preservation of human plasma in the liquid state at room temperature
for three years, the alpha-amino nitrogen and the nitrogen content of the tungstic
acid filtrate rise slowly until about two years have elapsed, after which time these
levels do not increase significantly.
2. During the entire period of storage the nitrogen contents of the trichlor-acetic acid filtrate and the "polypeptide index" increase progressively. The
actual increase represents hydrolysis to nonprotein size of 3 to 4 per cent of the
original protein.
3. The colloid osmotic pressure of stored plasma is slightly but significantly
greater than that of fresh plasma.
4. The viscosity of stored plasma is slightly but significantly greater than that
of fresh plasma.
5. The electrophoretic patterns of stored plasma show increases of alpha globulin and albumin concentration, complete disappearance of gamma globulin
(containing immune properties) and fibrinogen, and some reduction of beta globulin concentration as compared to fresh plasma.
6. Analysis of 3,384 questionnaires completed after administration of liquid
plasma more than a year old indicates that the transfusion of such plasma continues to be safe and beneficial up to at least three years of storage. The untoward
reaction rate following these administrations was significantly less than that
following a comparable series of 1500 administrations of commercially prepared
dried plasma.
Note:
The technical assistance of R. L. Erickson, PhM1c, V6, U.S.N.R., and P. Livingood, PhM3c, V6, U.S.N.R., is gratefully acknowledged. The kindness of Dr.
Ellice McDonald, Director, Biochemical Research Foundation, in arranging for the
electrophoretic work and in permitting the reporting of the work here is appreciated with deep thanks.
This study was possible only with the close cooperation of the Blood and Plasma
Department, Naval Medical School. For this cooperation, the authors are considerably indebted to Commander S. T. Gibson, M.C., U.S.N.R., Lieutenant
Commander H. R. Evans, (HC), U.S.N., and Lieutenant Commander M. T. Sproul,
H(W), U.S.N.R.
