Do deglycerolized red blood cells have the same effectiveness as fresh RBC units?

Deglycerolized red blood cells can indeed be viewed as equivalent to fresh red blood cell (RBC) units when frozen and thawed properly. The process of freezing red blood cells with glycerol helps to preserve their integrity and viability during storage. When the glycerol is removed (deglycerolized), the cells can be used for transfusion and retain much of their functionality as long as they are handled correctly.

This equivalence arises because the freezing technique is specifically designed to maintain the cells' characteristics, including their ability to carry oxygen and perform effectively in the recipient's body, similar to fresh RBCs. However, they must still be assessed for overall viability as well as the specific storage and thawing protocols that ensure their safe reintroduction into circulation.

Other options may imply limitations or lack of equivalence, which does not account for the acceptable practices in transfusion medicine regarding deglycerolized cells, leading to the conclusion that, under specific conditions, they can indeed function similarly to freshly available units of red blood cells.