Stored Blood Slowly Degrades Over Time

Researchers at University of Illinois have found that the amount of time a blood is stored in a blood bank can have a negative effect on its ability to carry oxygen into the tiny microcapillaries of the body. Using advanced optical techniques, the researchers measured the stiffness of the membrane surrounding red blood cells over time. They found that, even though the cells retain their shape and hemoglobin content, the membranes get stiffer, which steadily decreases ...