1. What is NSS chemically? Why should you use it in washing red cells?

 Normal saline is a crystalloid fluid. By definition, it is an aqueous solution of electrolytes

1and other hydrophilic molecule. Normal saline contains electrolytes (sodium and
chloride ions) which dissociates in solution. Washing red cells is typically performed to
remove plasma proteins and glycerol from the frozen RBC units. Moreover, it is used
during intra-operative cell salvaging to wash the red blood cells.

2. What is the purpose of washing the red blood cells?

 The purpose of washing the red blood cells is to remove plasma, which contains
substance that may interfere with antigen-antibody reaction.

3. A Medical Technologist is going to prepare a 5 ml of 12% red cell suspension. Compute

for the volume of NSS solution and the amount of washed red blood cell needed. Show
computation below:

Amount of Wasℎed Packed RBC

 % Red Cell Suspension= x 100
Total Volume

Amount of Wasℎed Packed RBC

12%= x100
5 ml

12% Amount of Wasℎed Packed RBC

=
100 5 ml

0.12 x 5 mL = Amount of Washed Packed RBC

Amount of Washed Packed RBC= 0.6 mL

 Total Volume = Amount of Washed Packed RBC + Amount of NSS

Amount of NSS = Total Volume - Amount of Washed Packed RBC

Amount of NSS = 5 mL - 0.6 mL

Amount of NSS = 4.4 mL

4. What is the purpose of preparing a red cell suspension in the laboratory?

 A red cell suspension is a common reagent used for many serologic procedures. Red
cell suspensions provide the appropriate serum to cell ratio to allow for grading and
interpretation of tests results.