Assessment of amino acids and metabolites in the supernatant of stored concentrates blood from sickle cell trait (SCT) and reference (non‐SCT) donors

Background and Objectives Sickle cell trait (SCT) persons are significant donors, and discarding these blood units reduces their supplies, mainly in the third‐world countries. This work focused on 12 metabolites associated with the red blood cell (RBC) storage lesion and 23 amino acids in the supernatants of packed RBC units from SCT and reference (non‐SCT) donors stored in the same conditions. Materials and Methods All samples of RBC concentrates were collected and separated from the storage of Colsan (Beneficient Association of Blood Collection), where they were routinely processed and separated as packed RBC units and stored in the refrigerator (2°–6°C). The supernatant samples of each packed RBC bag were separated by centrifugation at days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 of storage and kept at −80°C till the metabolite analysis together. Results The quantitation of metabolites and amino acids examined in the supernatant of SCT and reference donors showed no statistical differences along the cold storage. Lactic acid and malic acid releases occur in three phases during RBC storage. Basic and acid amino acids and corresponding amides have low and stable values during the first 14 days of storage, followed by a steep increase. Conclusion Our metabolomic results give elements that seem not to contraindicate the transfusion of RBC with SCT, besides its more structural fragility.