A system for assessing the microvascular fitness of a sample of stored red
blood cells. The system has a network device having at least one network
unit. The network unit has a single inlet and a single outlet for the
sample and a plurality of microchannels. The plurality of microchannels
receive the sample from the single inlet and drain the sample into the
single outlet. The network unit includes an aspiration pressure means for
providing movement of liquid sample through the at least one network
unit. The system further includes an analysis unit that receives the
network device therein. The analysis unit includes a sensor for capturing
measurements related to the sample and a processor capable of comparing
the captured measurements to measurements stored in a database of healthy
red blood cells to determine the microvascular fitness of the stored red
blood cells.