Deck 1: Red Blood Cells and Platelet Preservation: Historical Perspectives and Current Trends

Question 1

What does the term autologous transfusion refer to?

A) A parent donating blood for his or her child
B) An individual donating blood for a friend
C) An individual donating blood for a relative
D) An individual donating blood for his or her own transfusion

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Name the main lipid components of a red blood cell membrane.

A) Phospholipid
B) Sphingomyelin
C) Glycolipid
D) Glycophorin A

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which metabolic pathway is responsible for generating 90% of the ATP for the RBC?

A) Pentose phosphate shunt
B) Luebering-Rapoport shunt
C) Glycolysis
D) Methemoglobin reductase

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What would the hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve depict in a patient exhibiting clinical signs of alkalosis?

A) Normal
B) Shift to the left
C) Shift to the right
D) None of the above

Question 5

In the normal hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve, what percentage of oxygen is released to the tissues when PO₂ averages 40 mm Hg?

A) 75%
B) 25%
C) 100%
D) 50%

Question 6

The ABO blood groups were discovered in 1901 by whom?

A) Charles Drew
B) Karl Landsteiner
C) Loutit and Mollison
D) Edward Lindeman

Question 7

Which metabolic pathway permits the accumulation of 2,3 diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG)?

A) Glycolysis
B) Luebering-Rapoport shunt
C) Pentose phosphate shunt
D) Methemoglobin reductase

Question 8

All of the following areas of red blood cell biology are crucial for normal erythrocyte survival except:

A) cellular metabolism.
B) RBC membrane.
C) site of the ABO antigen attachment.
D) hemoglobin structure.

Question 9

What percentage of platelets is sequestered in the spleen as functional reserve after being released from the bone marrow?

A) 30%
B) 50%
C) 10%
D) 25%

Question 10

Which red blood cell preservative has a storage time of 35 days?

A) ACD
B) CPDA-1
C) AS-1
D) CPD

Question 11

What factors are known to influence platelet metabolism and function?

A) Storage temperature
B) Initial pH
C) Platelet count
D) All of the above

Question 12

What is the primary function of hemoglobin?

A) Iron metabolism
B) Porphyrin synthesis
C) Oxygen transport
D) Signal transduction

Question 13

All of the following biochemical changes are associated with loss of red blood cell viability upon storage except:

A) decreased pH.
B) loss of red blood cell function.
C) increased ATP level.
D) decreased glucose consumption.

Question 14

What is the average diameter of a platelet?

A) 5 to 10 µm
B) 2 to 4 µm
C) 1 to 2 µm
D) 4 to 6 µm

Question 15

Which of the following red blood cell morphologies may be present on the peripheral blood smear as a result of loss of RBC membrane?

A) Spherocytes
B) Target cells
C) Burr cells
D) Schistocytes

Question 16

What is the major biochemical consideration in platelet storage?

A) Glucose metabolism
B) Oxygen supply
C) Production of carbon dioxide
D) Regulation of pH

Question 17

A unit of blood was returned to the blood bank before it was spiked. Apparently the patient's IV failed. The unit of blood was outside the blood bank for 35 minutes. Which of the statements below is most accurate?

A) The unit of blood should be discarded immediately.
B) The unit of blood can be returned to inventory.
C) The unit of blood must be transfused within 4 hours or be discarded at the end of that time.
D) The unit of blood must be transfused with 24 hours.

Question 18

What is the correct biochemical composition of the RBC membrane?

A) 52% protein, 40% lipid, 8% carbohydrate
B) 40% protein, 8% lipid, 52% carbohydrate
C) 8% protein, 52% lipid, 40% carbohydrate
D) 8% lipid, 40% carbohydrate, 52% protein

Question 19

A standing order of platelets was shipped to your facility by your supplier. It was inadvertently left in the corner of the department until discovered 36 hours later. What would the appropriate action be for the blood banker?

A) If the temperature in the box was 22 +/- 2°C and the platelet swirl seemed OK, it would be OK to accept the unit into inventory.
B) The platelets have fallen outside the supplier's quality assurance. The unit should be discarded because the pH has probably dropped too low and platelet activation has been compromised.
C) If the temperature was 1°C to 6°C and the platelet swirl seemed OK, it would be OK to accept the unit into inventory.
D) If the platelets appeared OK and passed the platelet swirl test after being placed on the agitator, they could be accepted into the inventory.

Question 20

The RBC membrane is relatively permeable to all of the following except:

A) chloride.
B) sodium.
C) bicarbonate.
D) water.

Question 21

How is stroma-free hemoglobin solution prepared?

A) Outdated red blood cells are concentrated, and stroma is removed.
B) Outdated red blood cells are diluted with saline, and stroma is removed.
C) Outdated red blood cells are lysed, and stroma is removed.
D) None of the above

Question 22

What is the normal life span of an RBC?

A) 100 days
B) 120 days
C) 120 hours
D) 2 days

Question 23

Regarding loss of RBC membrane deformability, all of the following are true except:

A) increase in ATP level.
B) decrease in ATP level.
C) increase in calcium level.
D) decrease in spectrin phosphorylation level.

Question 24

Platelets are anucleated but are composed of organelles. Generally most of these organelles are composed of cytoplastic granules. When stimulated, which one of these granules would be most important in satisfying the metabolic need of the platelet?

A) Dense granules
B) Alpha granules
C) Lysosomes
D) Coarse granules

Question 25

What is the normal platelet count range per cubic millimeter?

A) 100 to 350
B) 150,000 to 350,000
C) 50,000 to 200,000
D) 350,000 to 500,000

Question 26

Which of the following statements about perfluorocarbons (PFCs) is not true?

A) PFCs are hydrocarbon structures in which all the hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine.
B) PFCs carry oxygen and carbon dioxide by dissolving them.
C) PFCs are able to carry oxygen to tissues that are inaccessible, even to RBCs, because of their small size.
D) PFCs are currently available for use in the United States and several other countries as a red blood cell substitute.

Question 27

Which of the following is not a major factor that influences platelet shape and activation while the platelet is in storage?

A) pH
B) Volume
C) Agitation
D) Temperature

Question 28

In order to maintain ATP levels in stored blood, _____________can be added to CPD to extend the shelf-life of stored RBCs from 21 days to 35 days. This new preservative is designated as CPDA-1.

A) mannitol
B) adenine saline
C) adenine and glucose
D) Rejuvenix

Question 29

A rare unit of blood became outdated 48 hours ago but is needed for a patient. Which of the following concepts applies to this situation?

A) The blood could be rejuvenated by adding Rejuvesol, being washed appropriately, and being transfused within 48 hours.
B) The blood could be rejuvenated with Rejuvesol, washed, and given immediately to the patient.
C) Once a unit is outdated, it is no longer available for use.
D) The unit can be rejuvenated immediately, washed, and stored in the appropriate refrigerator until needed later in the week.

Question 30

If platelets are to be stored for 5 days on a rotator, what is the optimal storage temperature?

A) 1°C to 6°C
B) 20°C to 24°C
C) 35°C to 37°C
D) 1°C to 10°C

Question 31

What cryoprotective agent is added to red blood cells upon freezing?

A) Dextrose
B) Adsol
C) Glycerol
D) All of the above

Question 32

Which of the following best describes "integral" membrane proteins?

A) Reside at the cytoplasmic surface of membrane
B) Span the entire membrane surface
C) Form the red blood cell cytoskeleton
D) None of the above

Question 33

All of the following are consistent with a "shift to the right" of the hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve except:

A) increased 2,3-DPG.
B) 50% O₂ saturation to tissues.
C) decreased 2,3-DPG.
D) decreased hemoglobin affinity for O_2.

Question 34

The normal position of the oxygen dissociation curve depends on three ligands normally found within the RBC. Which one of the following is not one of these ligands?

A) H+ ions
B) CO₂
C) 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG)
D) Na+

Question 35

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers have been produced from which of the following sources?

A) Bovine
B) Human
C) Recombinant hemoglobin
D) All of the above

Question 36

One of the most important controls of hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen is:

A) glucose.
B) 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG).
C) K+.
D) Ca++.

Question 37

Which type of blood storage container is no longer available for use in the United States because it may limit the viability of RBCs?

A) Glass bottles
B) PVC plastic bags with DEHP
C) DEHP-free polyolefin containers
D) Latex-free plastic containers

Question 38

Generally, the quality control measurements required by various accreditation organizations for platelet concentrates include:

A) platelet concentrate volume and platelet count.
B) leukocyte count if claims of leukoreduction are made.
C) pH of the unit.
D) All of the above

Question 39

What role do platelets play in hemostasis?

A) Maintenance of vascular integrity
B) Initial arrest of bleeding by platelet plug formation
C) Stabilization of the hemostatic plug
D) All of the above

Question 40

Which of the following events does not occur while RBCs are stored?

A) 2,3-DPG levels increase.
B) Potassium levels increase.
C) Hgb has a decreased affinity for oxygen carrying capacity.
D) 2,3-DPG and potassium levels increase.

Question 41

Proper agitation of platelets while they are being stored is:

A) important because when not agitated properly the platelets will stick together and not perform properly when transfused.
B) important because the pH of the stored platelets will increase and the platelets will lose functionality.
C) important because the pH of the stored platelets will decrease and the platelets will lose functionality.
D) not important because it has been deemed unnecessary by the FDA.

Question 42

Which of the following is licensed additive solutions approved for the storage of red blood cells for 42 days?

A) Adsol (AS-1)
B) Nutricel (AS-3)
C) Optisol (AS-5)
D) All of the above

Question 43

Which of the following is a possible future method in pathogen reduction to treat platelet components?

A) UV light and amotosalen
B) Amphotericin B
C) Vitamin B₁₂ and UV light
D) Penicillin

Question 44

Which of the following is not a commercial system approved by the FDA for screening for bacterial contamination in platelet collections?

A) BacT/ALERT
B) eBDS
C) BACTEC
D) Scansytems