What are prestorage leuko-reduced red blood cells?
This form of RBCs requires special preparation by removing leukocytes (white blood cells) by filtration within 48 hours of donation. This is done because high numbers of leukocytes remaining in a unit of RBCs during the storage process can fragment and deteriorate releasing cytokines (chemicals that effect the inflammatory response). Fragments of leukocytes have been implicated as a cause of blood recipients developing allergies to subsequent blood transfusions.
