Blood Components

Whole Blood:
      Contains all blood elements plus anticoagulant-preservative

      Used to increase oxygen carrying capacity and volume expansion in massively bleeding patients.

      Storage: 1-6° C for up to 35 days

Red Blood Cells (RBCs):

      Prepared from whole blood after removal of plasma or collected using an apheresis machine(2 unit).

      Used to increase oxygen carrying capacity           

      Storage: 1-6°C for up to 42 days

Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP):
     Prepared from whole blood or using an apheresis machine.
     Used to treat patients with multiple coagulation factor deficiency who are bleeding or who will be undergoing an invasive procedure.

            Contains maximum levels of labile (Factor V and VIII) and no labile clotting factors.
     Storage: Frozen <-18°C for up to 12 months

                  Thawed at 30-37°C and stored at 1-6°C for up to 24 hours

Platelets:

     Prepared from whole blood (not <20°C) within 4 hrs or by using an apheresis machine.

                   Used of thrombocytopenia in bleeding patients (<50,000/ml)

                   Storage: 20-24°C with agitation for up to 5 days

Cryoprecipitate:

       Prepared from the insoluble portion of FFP when it is hawed at 1-6°C, and is refrozen within 1 hr of preparation.

       Used to treat fibrinogen deficiency or Factor XIII deficiency.

       Contains High levels of fibrinogen, Factor VIII and XIII and is suspended in 15ml of plasma

       Storage: Frozen <-18°C for up to 12 months

                    Thawed at 20-24°C for up to 6 hours

Granulocytes:

       Prepared from whole blood or apheresis (mostly apheresis).

            Can be harvested in buffy coats (UK)

       Used when patient has an infection, neutropenia, a failure to respond to antibiotics, myeloid hypoplasia, and a reasonable chance of recovery.

       Transfuse as soon as possible after collection

       Storage: 20-24°C with no agitation for up to 24 hours