Microfluidic deformability analysis of the red cell storage lesion

Abstract

We present a microfluidic device and method to measure the deformability of red blood cells (RBCs) stored in blood bags as a way to assess their quality prior to use in blood transfusions. This device performs automated and parallel measurements of the threshold pressure required to deform single cells through funnel shaped constrictions. We show this device is capable of making sensitive measurements of the loss of RBC deformability resulting from cold storage, providing a rapid method to assess storage based degradation of stored RBC units, as well as variability across donors.