The National Blood Resource Program Adenine Experience

The National Blood Resource Program of the National Heart and Lung Institute supported 11 studies of adenine as a red blood cell preservative for a period of three years. The goal of the program was to obtain additional needed data on adenine as a preservative to support its licensure by the regulatory agencies. The National Blood Resource Program projects were designed to supplement the research financed by the military and the pharmaceutical industry. Studies of red blood cells, plasma proteins, and platelets were included in the program. Red blood cell antigenicity was studied. Studies of plasma proteins and platelets demonstrated the lack of adverse effects of adenine. General studies of red blood cell preservation, platelet preservation, and red cell freezing were also completed under the adenine contract program. 1974 AABB