Background: Hemolysis is one of the red blood cell concentrates (RCCs) storage concerns. In Burkina Faso, hemolysis rate was not routinely assessed in RCCs. Our study aimed at assessing the degree of hemolysis in RCCs processed by centrifugation (centrifuged RCCs) and whole blood settling by simple gravity (Sedimented RCCs) in Burkina Faso.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional comparative study on 46 prepared by centrifugation and 46 prepared by sedimentation, matched on their collection date and initial volume of whole blood. The hemolysis percent was measured on Days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 32.

Results: In the centrifuged RCCs, the hemolysis percent on D0 was 0.232% versus 0.199% for the sedimented RCCs (p = 0.046). At D32, the average hemolysis percent was 835% for the sedimented RCCs and 0.779% for the centrifuged RCCs (p = 0.042). The degree of hemolysis increased gradually between D0 and D32 with an average increase of 0.120% for centrifuged RCCs and 0.116% for sedimented RCCs.

Conclusion: The degree of hemolysis at D32 in both centrifuged RCCs and sedimented RCCs falls below standards. Therefore, it necessary to revisit blood components processing procedures, focusing on the centrifugation parameters and the handling conditions.