In light of recent studies that suggest the use of stored blood
during transfusions may cause adverse effects in patients, the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) funded a
number of research projects to examine the safety of transfusing
older red cells and the impact of stored blood on respiratory
gases. These papers discussing potential adverse effects of
stored blood and related concerns for oxygen delivery by
transfusion are now available online in TRANSFUSION, a journal
published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of AABB. Blood banks are
responsible for the collection, testing, and storage of blood to
be used by the nearly 5 million Americans who receive blood
transfusions annually. When patients experience a loss of blood
due to illness or trauma, transfusions of whole blood or
individual components (red cells, white cells, platelets, and
plasma) are administered to restore blood volume to adequate
levels. According to the 2007 National Blood Collection and
Utilization Survey (NBCUS) Report, 14.