Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Impact of 13.56-MHz radiofrequency identification systems on the quality of stored red blood cells med./bio.

By: Kozma N, Speletz H, Reiter U, Lanzer G, Wagner T

Published in: Transfusion 2011; 51 (11): 2384-2390

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the biologic effect of 13.56 MHz RFID technology on blood product samples that might be caused by long-term exposure (0-42 days).

Background/further details

RFID application is used for temperature measurement of stored blood products to support the decision of discarding or further using a blood product.
16 red blood cell units were stored at 4±2°C for 42 days. 12 units were used as control samples and 4 units were used as test samples (exposure).

Endpoint

different parameters of red blood cell products

Exposure

- RF field
- EAS/RFID

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 13.56 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 42 days	power: 1 W

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	13.56 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 42 days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Siemens Moby SLG D12 RFID reader-writer with a 6 cm x 12 cm antenna
Chamber	410 cm x 350 cm x 280 cm cold storage room with an ambient temperature of 4±2°C
Setup	RFID system consisting of a semiactive RFID tag on the blood sample bag and a RFID reader-writer; operating distance 0 - 120 mm; experiments done in the cold storage room
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power	1 W	-	-	-	-

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
red blood cell units

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

different parameters of red blood cell products (potassium, pH, lactate, glucose, free hemoglobin (blood gas analyzer); hematocrit and hemoglobin (hematology system); hemolysis rate) on days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture
red blood cell samples

Time of investigation:

during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In both groups glucose and pH levels decreased while lactate, free hemoglobin, and potassium increased within the expected levels. The hemolysis rate showed an increase after the 25th day in both groups (with slightly higher values in the exposed samples) but remained below the maximum acceptable limit value of 0.8%. Significant differences between exposure and control groups were observed in the levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit on day 7, pH on days 14, 21, and 28, and lactate on days 28 and 35, but during the whole study biochemical changes in all samples remained within the normal expected values.
In conclusion, all variables measured remained within the acceptable limits in both groups, without detecting any obvious adverse effects of RFID on red blood cells; therefore, one can conclude that it is feasible to implement RFID-enabled processes.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Davis R et al. (2010): Absence of acute adverse in-vitro effects on AS-1 RBCs and whole blood-derived platelets following prolonged exposure to 13.56 MHz radio energy
Kim YA et al. (2005): Study of erythrocyte hemolysis on exposure to strong 2.45-GHz electromagnetic radiation
Kiel JL et al. (1986): Physiologic aging of mature porcine erythrocytes: effects of various metabolites, antimetabolites, and physical stressors
Checcucci A et al. (1985): Thermal haemolytic threshold of human erythrocytes
Kiel JL et al. (1984): Microwave and thermal interactions with oxidative hemolysis
Dunscombe PB et al. (1983): A search for nonthermal effects of 434 MHz microwave radiation on whole human blood
Piana ML et al. (1981): Effects of microwave irradiation on human blood platelets
Peterson DJ et al. (1979): An investigation of the thermal and athermal effects of microwave irradiation on erythrocytes