CPDA-1

What is this medication? CPDA-1 is an anticoagulant and preservative solution used primarily during the collection and storage of whole blood or red blood cells. It consists of a specific combination of citrate, phosphate, dextrose, and adenine. The citrate works to prevent the blood from clotting by binding with calcium ions, while the phosphate acts as a buffer to maintain a stable pH balance throughout the duration of storage.

Dextrose is included in the mixture to provide a necessary energy source for the red blood cells to sustain their metabolic functions while outside the body. The addition of adenine is a key feature that helps cells maintain levels of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, which significantly extends the viable shelf life of the collected blood. When this solution is used, stored blood components can typically remain suitable for transfusion for up to thirty-five days under proper refrigeration.