RBC glycolysis three fold for each 10 C decrease in temperature. Thus , a conventional unit of can be stored about a day at 37 C,  3 to 4 days t room temperature and five to six weeks at 4 C. With each of these times and temperature sufficient glucose metabolized to produce enough protons to reduce the pH to the point where further metabolism is inhibited; ATP concentrations then fall to that level that do not support cell viability  

Hi Kyohei, RBCs are stored at low temperature for many reasons including slowing down metabolism (as mentioned above), retarding microbial growth and preserving the pO2 and metabolite levels as close to normal as possible.

Storage of RBCs can't be compared to other cells because the cells you mentioned can replicate. RBCs cannot.

>Mr. Sharma, Mr. Stefansson

Thanks for answering. That's because to slow down their metabolism (glycolysis), and a expiration date of a transfusion bag is, so to speak, RBCs' lifespan.

Please let me ask one more question.

I understand why RBCs are stored at low temperature, but why is that temperature 2~6 C?

Is there the risk of hemolyzing or other RBCs' degradation at more low temperature which RBCs don't  freeze?

The main thing about storing RBCs at low Temp. is keeping them in stasis. (e.g. minimal metabolic activity, minimal microbial activity, etc.)

This is a delicate balance for blood banks.

Freezing destroys RBCs (without cryoprotectants) and higher T results in storage lesions.

2-6°C or 2-8°C is the standard temperature of fridges and cold rooms since long time ago. It is more or less the lowest temperature that is high enough to prevent unintentional freezing of aqueous solutions. Freezing biological material (especially slow freezing in a freezer) is often more destructive than storage at 4°C.

By the way: A fridge or freezer set to a special temperature (e.g. 4°C) varies by a few degrees for technical reasons. If the range is more like +/-2°C or +/-5°C depends on quality of the device. 

Mr. Stefansson, Ms. Grotelueschen

Ok, I pretty much got it.

Thank u for your response!

 Dear Matsubayashi,

You can store whole blood and packed cells at 2 -40c maximum up to 42 days in anti coagulant / additive solutions. Below this temperature RBCs will rupture due to water contents of RBCs. If we want to storage for longer time you should glycerolized the RBCs (Replace the water content with glycerin) than you should store it for longer time at minus temperatures.  

how fast blood dries at temperature around 0?