Another article that Charles R. Drew contributed to involved him and his colleagues comparing the potassium concentration in the blood serum (plasma) of human cadavers to the blood plasma of living blood donors (Scudder et al 1940). Their results showed that cadaver blood contained too much potassium in its plasma, which could potentially harm the recipient of this blood: an important discovery at the time as Cadavers were used in the 1930s as blood donors (Scudder et al 1940). They also found that blood from living humans stored at 4°C contained six times less potassium in its plasma than cadaver blood (Scudder et al 1940). This research conducted by Charles R. Drew and colleagues led Drew to further discover the necessary conditions for blood preservation.

In 1941, Charles R. Drew and his colleagues published an article outlining their research on blood transfusion, storage, and transport (Scudder et al 1941). The article discusses several experiments carried out by Drew and his colleagues focusing on changes in the cellular elements, electrolyte distribution, and protein patterns of blood (Scudder et al 1941). The article combines the results of these experiments into a guide on the best practices of blood and plasma collection, storage, and transport (Scudder et al 1941). This article represents the point at which Drew’s research of blood transfusion culminated in being applied to the practices of blood transfusion, making the process more effective. In 1944, Charles R. Drew published a review article that summarized the major contributors to the development of blood preservation and storage (Drew 1944). This article highlights that many scientists from Russia were the front runners in blood preservation and transfusion studies in the 1800s and early 1900s (Drew 1944). This article was Charles R. Drew acknowledging those who came before him in the field of blood transfusion and preservation.