Component Preparation

• Whole Blood


  • Platelet must undergo centrifugation for 8hrs
  • Components: RBCs and Plasma
  • Hematocrit Level: 38%
  • Storage Temperature: 1°C to 6°C
  • Volume: 400-500 mL
  • Shelf-life: ACD or CPD (21 days), CPDA-1 (35 days)
• Irradiated Whole Blood


  Inhibits T-cell proliferation, Decreases shelf-life to 28 days from the date of irradiation
• Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBC)


  More specific than Whole Blood when aiming to increase the hemoglobin/hematocrit
• Preparation of PRBC

  1. Centrifugation

  2. Sedimentation

  3. Apheresis
• PRBC

  • Products (Must be prepared w/n 8 hours): Platelet Conc, Frozen Plasma, Cryoprecipitate
  • Hematocrit Level: 65%-80%
  • Volume: 160-275 mL
  • Storage Temperature: Refrigerated [20-22C]
  • Expiration same w/WB depending to the Anticoagulants
• Red Blood Cell Aliquots


  • Smaller blood bag; single donor unit from 1 packed RBC, e.g. 200 mL can make multiple aliquots
  • Once blood bag already opened it can't be used to another patient
  • Hematocrit level (80%) – raised hemoglobin by 3 g/dL
• Red Blood Cell Aliquots


  • Volume: 10-25 mL
  • Shelf-life: 24 hours
  • Storage Temperature: 1°C to 6°C
  • Anticoagulant: CPDA-1
• Irradiated RBCs


  Irradiation inhibits the proliferation of T cells and subsequent transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease
• Irradiated RBCs

  • Performed using cesium-137 or cobalt-60
  • Darkening of radiochromic film label
  • Shelf-life: 28 days from the time of irradiation or the original outdate, whichever is sooner
• Leukoreduced RBCs

  WBC count in the unit is reduced to less than 5 x 10(6) and contains at least 85% of the original RBC mass
• Leukoreduced RBCs


  • Shelf-life: 24 hours [open system during irradiation]
• Frozen, Deglycerolized RBCs


  • Deglycerolized Product: free of leukocytes, platelets and plasma
  • High Glycerol (40% weight /vol)
  • Low Glycerol (20% weight/vol)
  • Ideal for autologous patients since stored for long period of time
• Frozen, Deglycerolized RBCs

  • Shelf-life: 10 years
  • Storage Temperature: -65°C
• Platelet Concentrates


  • Produced during the routine conversion of whole blood into concentrated RBCs or by apheresis
  • Concentrate must be prepared within 4 hours of collection [avoid contamination]
• Platelet Concentrates

  • Storage Temperature: 20°C to 24°C [room temp.] with continuous agitation
  • Shelf-life: 5 days
  • Volume: 40-70 mL
• Platelet Aliquots


  For neonates
• Platelet Aliquots

  • Storage Temperature: 20°C to 24°C with continuous agitation
  • Shelf-life: 5 days
  • Volume: 5-10 mL
• Platelet Leukoreduced


  • Produced using leukoreduction filter designed for platelets
  • Single-donor or apheresis platelets that have been leukoreduced must contain less than 5 x 106 leukocytes in at least 95% of units tested
• Platelet Leukoreduced

  • Storage Temperature: 20°C to 24°C with continuous agitation
  • Volume: 5-10 mL
• Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)

  • From whole blood or apheresis collection
  • Must be frozen within: 8 hours (CPD, CD2D, CPDA-1); 6 hours (ACD)
  • Must be thawed before transfusion at 30°C and 37°C using water bath. [thawed- liquify]
  • After thawing, store at 1°C to 6°C for 24 hours [ above 24 hrs.- cannot be used & can't refreeze again]
• Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)


  • Storage Temperature: >-18°C (1 year) to >-65°C (7 years)
  • Volume: 150-250 mL
• Cryoprecipitate


  • Cold-precipitated concentration of factor VIII, the antihemophilic factor (AHF)
  • Prepared from FFP thawed slowly between 1°C and 6°C
  • Contains most of the factor VIII and part of the fibrinogen from the original plasma
• Cryoprecipitate

  • Storage Temperature: >-18°C (12 months)
  • Volume: 15 mL
  • Must be thawed before transfusion at 30°C and 37°C using water bath
  • After thawing, store at 22°C to 24°C for 24 hours
• Plasma Derivatives


  Prepared by: manufacture of pooled, human source, and recovered plasma; recombinant DNA technology; or monoclonal antibody purification
• Plasma Derivatives

  • Activated Factor VII
  • Factor VIII Concentrates
  • Factor IX Concentrates
  • Factor XIII Concentrates
  • Immune Serum Globulin
  • Normal Serum Albumin (NSA)
  • Plasma Protein Fraction
  • Rho (D) Immune Globulin
  • Synthetic Volume Expanders
  • Antithrombin III Concentrates
• Labeling of Components

  • In accordance with: AABB Standards, FDA Regulations and ISBT Code 128 [adaptation of conventional coding system & adapted by ISBT]
  • The maximum number of unique identifiers that may be affixed to the unit is two; this may be in numeric or alphanumeric form
• Label Must Include

  • Donor Identification Number: 14 characters
  • Information relating to country, center of origin, year of collection, sequential number and a check letter
  • Name of Component
  • ABO and Rh Type
  • Serologic Results
  • Expiration Date
  • Unique facility identifier
  • Product code
• Equipment used in the component manufacturing laboratory

  • Intended for one of three functions: manufacture, quality control, or storage
• Apheresis platelets

  One donation can collect up to three adult doses of platelets, or 18 times the quantity that can be harvested from a single whole blood donation
• Apheresis plasma

  One donation can collect up to 1 L of plasma, which is approximately three to four times the volume that can be harvested from a single whole blood donation
• Apheresis double-red blood cells

  One donation can collect up to 2 units of red blood cells, double what can be harvested from a single whole blood donation
• Centrifuges

  Can process MAX 6 to 12 units of whole blood at once
• Plasma expressors


  Mechanical devices that apply pressure to the blood bag, which allows blood components to flow from one bag to another by way of the integrated tubing system
• Tubing Sealers


  Use a combination of targeted radio frequency energy and pressure to melt and seal the tubing
• Sterile connection devices (SCDs)


  Allow two separate blood bags to be connected via their PVC tubing without breaching the integrity of either container
• Plasma Freezers


  To freeze plasma, liquid components may be placed in a standard –18°C or colder freezer and allowed to freeze until solid
• Temperatures must be continuously monitored, recorded at least every 4 hours, and the device should alert the user if an unacceptable temperature condition occurs
• Platelet storage

  20° to 24°C
• Whole blood collection

  Ratio of 14 mL of anticoagulant-preservative for every 100 mL of whole blood targeted for collection
• Whole blood component

  450 mL ( 10%) of whole blood with 63 mL of anticoagulant-preservative or 500 mL ( 10%) of whole blood with 70 mL of anticoagulant-preservative, collected from blood donors with a minimum hematocrit of 38%