Carboxyhemoglobin levels in banked blood.

To determine the prevalence of carboxyhemoglobin levels in banked blood exceeding Air Quality Standards (level of carboxyhemoglobin greater than 1.5 percent), we analyzed banked blood for the level of carboxyhemoglobin from 101 randomly selected samples. Of 101 units of banked blood, 49 (49 percent) had carboxyhemoglobin levels greater than 1.5 percent, and 36 (36 percent) had levels of 2.0 percent or more. We suggest that it may be undesirable to use blood with increased carboxyhemoglobin content when multiple transfusions are necessary, particularly in patients with cardiac or pulmonary disease. Labeling banked blood for carboxyhemoglobin content would be useful in order to help avoid multiple or consecutive transfusions of blood with high levels of carboxyhemoglobin.

Duke Scholars

Author Michael Hugh Sketch Jr. Medicine, Cardiology