The red cell preservation solution PAGGS-Mannitol differs from the well documented PAGGS-Sorbitol only by the exchange from Sorbitol in Mannitol. In a clinical investigation with volunteers, up to 21 of the pure PAGGS-Mannitol solution were infused within 4 h. Blood and urine parameters were determined. The solution was well tolerated, no unexpected change of blood and urine parameters was found. The 24 h red cell in vivo survival rate of PAGGS-Mannitol was found to be 74.5 +/- 4.4%, after 49 days storage, a value which was described for PAGGS-Sorbitol before. In vitro data on storage of red cell concentrates with and without buffy coat were determined for hemolysis, 2,3-DPG and ATP using a blood bag system with DEHP and TOTM plastisized PVC. If 1% hemolysis is regarded as acceptable, red cell concentrates can be stored in PAGGS-Mannitol with a TOTM plastisized blood bag system up to 42 days. Under these conditions the amount of plastisizer in the red cell concentrate was found to be only 1% of the amount determined in a standard DEHP plastisized PVC blood bag system.