New Formula Predicts How Quickly RBCs Release Oxygen
January 03, 2025
A research team from Oxford University has
developed a new formula to predict how quickly red blood cells release their oxygen by measuring their shape. The test, called FlowScore, could help improve specialist transplant and transfusion practice and blood banking. The findings were published this month in
eBioMedicine, a journal within
The Lancet Discovery Science.
FlowScore analyzes data from flow cytometry, a method that uses light scattering patterns to evaluate cell size and shape during routine blood counts. Healthy red blood cells have a distinctive biconcave shape, which facilitates efficient oxygen delivery. However, refrigerated storage causes red cells to become more spherical, slowing their ability to release oxygen.
In collaboration with the United Kingdom’s NHS Blood and Transplant, the researchers adapted this method for blood banking applications by analyzing blood stored according to NHS protocols. They found that FlowScore simplified monitoring of red cell oxygen transport, enabling blood banks to quantify the beneficial effects of rejuvenation and detect periods of blood handling outside blood bank-grade conditions.
According to investigators, FlowScore could significantly enhance the monitoring of stored blood – particularly in regions with higher ambient temperatures – and may pave the way for tailoring blood quality for vulnerable patient groups.
