Blood Freezing to Nearly Absolute Zero Temperature: −272.29°C

Human erythrocytes were collected in ACD anticoagulant, glycerolized with an equal volume of 8.6 M glycerol, 8 percent glucose, 1 percent fructose, and 0.3 percent Na₂ EDTA solution, sealed in glass ampules, and frozen to −272.29°C (0.86°K) in liquid helium under high vacuum. Biological assays performed after thawing and three-stage dialysis to remove the glycerol showed less than 1 percent hemolysis. Intracellular potassium, 2,3 DPG, and ATP were within the normal range.