Automated methods and apparatus for washing surgical swabs to extract viable red blood cells from said swabs. One method comprises contacting at least one swab retaining viable red blood cells with saline-based wash solution in a receptacle under sterile conditions； and effecting the automated compression and/or agitation of the receptacle containing the swab(s), saline-based wash solution and red blood cells to facilitate extraction of viable red blood cells from the swabs into the saline-based wash solution. Another method comprises providing at least one swab retaining viable red blood cells in a receptacle； providing saline-based wash solution in said receptacle so that it contacts said swab(s) such that viable red blood cells are extracted from the swab(s) into the saline-based wash solution； effecting automated compression and/or agitation of the receptacle containing the swab(s), saline-based wash solution and red blood cells to facilitate extraction of viable red blood cells from the swab(s) into the saline-based wash solution； and pumping saline-based wash solution containing viable red blood cells extracted from the swab(s) to a reservoir.
