Granulocyte concentrate function during preservation: effect of temperature

Granulocyte concentrates collected from normal donors are necessarily stored for varying intervals up to the time of transfusion. However, information regarding the fate of collected cells and the optimal mode of storage in vitro in the interval between collection and transfusion is far from complete. We studied granulocyte function during preservation of granulocyte concentrates for up to 72 hr. The initial and most consistent alteration in granulocyte function during storage was failure of random migration and chemotaxis after 24 hr of storage (50% and 61% of normal, respectively). By 48 hr the respiratory burst was decreased by 42%, whereas at 48 hr phagocytic and bactericidal activities were nearly normal. Defects in migration and respiratory burst are not due to delayed activation of these functions but to absolute decreases in maximum rates of migration and oxygen consumption. Comparison of granulocyte concentrate storage at 6 degrees C versus room temperature indicated at 24 hr an improved (p greater than 0.02) but still abnormal (p greater than 0.02) chemotactic response with 24 degrees C storage and at 48 hr no difference in migration but a slight advantage in bacterial killing at 6 degrees C storage. These studies show that severe impairment of granulocyte function occurs within 24 hr of collection by centrifugal means; consequently, granulocyte concentrates should be transfused as soon as possible after collection.