The observations reported are for erythrocytes frozen at ‐80 C for one month. Deglycerolized red blood cells resuspended in autologous plasma and stored at 4 C for 21 days after reconstitution have acceptable 24 hour survival, that is 70 per cent or greater. Deglycerolized red blood cells resuspended in 5 per cent Hyland albumin medium and stored at 4C for up to 12 days after reconstitution have acceptable 24‐hour survival. Deglycerolyzed red blood cells resuspended in 5 per cent outdated albumin medium have acceptable 24‐hour chromium survival when stored at 4 C for up to six days. The mode of removal of the nonviable erythrocytes in nonsurgical patients is primarily through an extravascular mechanism. The clinical acceptability of a reconstituted unit of preserved blood is dependent not only on the survival of the preserved red blood cells but equally on the mode of removal of the nonviable erythrocytes and the total amount of free supernatant hemoglobin. It is recommended that the total amount of free supernatant hemoglobin in reconstituted, previously frozen units should be measured on the day of transfusion because of the variability and unpredictability of the levels observed in this