Tag: Cryopreservation

While a typical unit of donated red blood cells can be stored for up to 42 days, the lifespan of a bag of blood varies dramatically depending on its specific components and storage method. This specialized preservation is crucial for maintaining the viability and safety of the blood supply, governed by strict regulations from bodies like the FDA and AABB. The question of how long can you keep a bag of blood depends on a delicate balance of science and procedure.

While extraordinary cases of survival from extreme hypothermia exist, the idea of long-term revival of a completely frozen human is currently a scientific impossibility. The question of how long can a human be frozen and live delves into the complex realities of cryopreservation, a procedure with significant technological and biological limitations.

While pop culture is filled with tales of characters being frozen and reanimated, medical science reveals a much more complex reality. The critical distinction lies between survivable extreme hypothermia and lethal cellular damage from true freezing. So, can a human survive after being frozen?

With a boiling point of -196°C (-320°F), liquid nitrogen is one of the coldest substances on Earth, and this extreme cold is precisely **why do hospitals need liquid nitrogen** for various critical medical applications. From dermatological procedures to storing crucial biological materials, its unique properties make it an indispensable tool in modern healthcare.

Every year, over 40,000 units of red blood cells are needed daily in the U.S. for transfusions. The practice of banking blood for personal use, known as autologous donation, raises an important question: **Can you preserve your own blood?**

The freezing point of human blood is approximately -0.5°C (31.1°F), slightly lower than pure water due to its complex solute composition. Knowing what happens if your blood freezes reveals the devastating cellular damage that occurs, making it a fatal event for any living organism.

While hearts and lungs can only be preserved for a few hours, the resilient kidney can be preserved outside the body for significantly longer. This stark difference raises the crucial question: what organ can be preserved the longest? The answer illuminates the complex challenges and scientific breakthroughs in transplant medicine.