AT A RECENT WORKSHOP on frozen red blood cell outdating sponsored by the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, National Heart and Lung Institute,' several prototype devices permitting sterile entry into blood containers (sterile docking devices) were presented. Emphasis throughout the meeting was on the narrow issue of extending the shelf-life of thawed, deglycerolized red blood cells beyond 24 hours. However, the ability to manipulate blood in containers sterilely has implications considerably beyond this objective. First, with current techniques, commitment regarding future component processing of a unit of blood is made at the time of phlebotomy, merely through the choice of integral bag system employed. For example, unless a unit is drawn into an integral double bag system, packing the red blood cells requires a 24-hour dating from the time of plasma removal. A universal single bag with an integral sterile docking device incorporated would eliminate this commitment, and permit maximum flexibility for every unit. Although none of the prototype devices is sufficiently near production to project
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