http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24523302

Abstract quote below

Vet Rec. 2014 Feb 11. doi: 10.1136/vr.102127. [Epub ahead of print]

Assessment of a blood preservation protocol for use in ferrets before
transfusion.

Pignon C, Donnelly TM, Todeschini C, Deschamps JY, Roux FA.

Author information
Exotic Animal Medicine Service, Alfort School of Veterinary Medicine,
7 Avenue du General de Gaulle, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France.

Abstract
Blood transfusion has been described in ferrets as a treatment for
oestrus-associated anaemia and as a life-saving therapy following
trauma, iatrogenic (usually surgery-induced) anaemia, autoimmune
haemolytic anaemia and pure red cell aplasia. Although blood banking
is a common method for storage of feline and canine blood it is not
currently done with ferret blood. The aim of this study was to
determine the shelf-life of ferret blood using the anticoagulant
citrate-phosphate-dextrose-solution with adenine (CPDA). Two male
ferrets were used as blood donors. From each ferret, 6 ml of blood
was taken from the cranial vena cava and stored in 10 ml polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) blood tubes containing 1 ml of CPDA solution. Blood
was taken from each ferret once per month for five months. These 10
blood samples were stored in a laboratory refrigerator at 4 degrees C
for four weeks. Biochemical (glucose, pH, lactate, potassium, sodium)
and haematological (haematocrit, light microscopic blood smear
examination) analyses were performed on the stored blood at days 0,
7, 14, 21 and 28. Biochemical analyses revealed a progressive decrease
from day seven in the stored blood pH, glucose and sodium, with a
concomitant increase in lactate and potassium. These results are
attributable to the ongoing metabolism and deterioration of the red
blood cells (RBC) while in storage, and are more rapid than described
for human or canine stored blood. Haematological analyses revealed a
progressive elevation of the haematocrit due to the appearance of
hypochromic red blood cells and echinocytes beginning at day 7.
Haemolysis was observed in the microhaematocrit capillary tube sample
by day 21, and microscopic clots were visible on the blood smear by
day 28. The low blood pH and the appearance of many hypochromic RBCs
and some echinocytes from day 7 in CPDA-stored ferret blood, suggest
storedferret blood has a short shelf-life when compared with stored
human or canine blood. We recommend that ferret blood stored in CPDA
should not be used for transfusion after seven days of storage at 4
degrees C.

PMID: 24523302 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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