Abstract: Objective To study the influence of the store time and temperature in pneumatic tube system for whole blood transportation on ultrastructure of blood cells. Method Whole blood were stored for 5 days in 450 ml per bag and each was divided into 225 ml per bag. Damping and non-damping methods for PTS transportation were used. Blood cells were subjected to scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy to observe the cell ultrastructure in various store time and temperature. Result No instant striking difference of ultrastructure of the blood cells, such as RBCs, platelets and neutrophils, were noted between the two methods before PTS transportation. However, the time and temperature after 2 and 6 hr of blood storage following PTS transportation might notably affect the structure of the red cells, which has no close correlation with either damping or non-damping method, meanwhile, there was limited changes observed on platelets or neatrophils. Conclusion Pneumatic tube system has limited impact on ultrastructure of blood cells. Immediate whole blood transfusion after transportation by PTS is safe in clinical transfusion.

Key words: Pneumatic tube system, Electron microscopy, Blood cell, Ultrastructure