One unit of red blood cells (RBC) contains approximately 200 mL red blood cells, 100 mL additive solution (AS-1, AS-3) and ~30 mL plasma. Additive solutions replace the majority of plasma from a whole blood unit and extend storage life of the unit. Some RBCs are available without the additive solution, with only anticoagulant present with the plasma (CPDA-1, CP2D, CPD). Each configuration contains the pertinent information on the product or component label. Expiration dating depends on the additive or anticoagulant present in the unit. RBCs must be stored at 1-6C.

Apheresis leukocyte reduced platelets, collected from a single donor, are prepared in 200-400 mL of plasma, and contain a minimum yield of 3.0x 10″ platelets. Each pheresis unit is equivalent to 6-8 whole blood derived platelet concentrates and is usually an adequate dose for an average size adult. Platelets expire in 5 days or 7 days. The expiration date will be clear on the product label. Platelets must be stored between 20-24C with gentle agitation.

Blood Centers of the Pacific does not supply platelet concentrates produced from Whole Blood donations.

Platelets supplied by BCP have been screened for bacterial contamination and found to be negative in compliance with AABB Standard 5.1.5.1. Additional testing is not required by the Transfusion Facility.

Several plasma component configurations are available. Anticoagulant and volume depend on the collection process. Plasma provided from whole blood donations contains approximately 250mL. Plasma provided from apheresis donations contains a minimum of 200 mL. Pediatric configurations can be provided from apheresis fresh frozen plasma products. Each unit contains the pertinent information on the component or product label.

Depending on center processes, plasma may be provided as:

• Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)
• Plasma Frozen within 24 Hours
• Cryo-Reduced Plasma

Frozen expiration date is 365 days. Expiration dating of a thawed component depends on the type of plasma component. Thawed FFP must be transfused within 24 hour of thawing. Other thawed plasma products must be transfused within 5 days of thawing. Frozen plasma units must be stored at <-18C. Thawed plasma must be stored between 1-6C.

Cryo is prepared from plasma collected from a whole blood donation and contains Fibrinogen (>150 mg), von Willebrand Factor, Factor VIII (>80 IU), Factor XIII and Fibronectin. Cryo is the only adequate fibrinogen concentrate available for intravenous use. Each cryo unit contains approximately 15 mL plasma. Frozen expiration date is 365 days. Thawed cryo has an expiration date of 4 hours. Frozen cryo must be stored at <-18C. Thawed cryo must be stored at room temperature.

Granulocytes prepared by apheresis are indicated for a very limited use. The Transfusion Facility must discuss use of this component with the BCP Medical Director to coordinate collection. Granulocytes have a short expiration time after collection (24 hours). They are stored at 20-24C without agitation.

Blood Centers of the Pacific routinely provides leukocyte reduced RBC and platelet components. An occasional special unit (e.g., autologous or HLA matched unit imported from another center or a deglycerolized RBC) may not be leukocyte reduced. If the unit is required to be transfused as leukocyte reduced then the transfusion facility must use a leukocyte reduction filter.

Patients at risk for developing graft-versus-host disease should receive irradiated cellular components:

• Severely immunocompromised patients
• Hematopoetic cell transplant candidates and recipients
• Patients undergoing intrauterine transfusions
• Recipients of donor directed components from a blood relative of the recipient
• If the donor is selected for HLA compatibility by typing or cross-matching

Irradiated RBCs have a maximum expiration date of 28 days from irradiation. The BCP operating systems assigns irradiated blood components an expiration date that is 28-days from the date of COLLECTION after irradiation. If the unit has an expiration date less than 28 days prior to irradiation the shorter date must be used.

Removal of excess donor plasma from cellular components is indicated in selected patients who cannot tolerate the full volume or when ABO incompatible single donor platelets are transfused.

Approximately 10% of platelets are lost in this process and the extra centrifugation step may cause some platelet activation and loss of function. Volume Reduced platelets have a 4 hour expiration date.

Patients with severe life threatening plasma allergies uncontrolled by medications or volume reduction may require use of washed RBCs and Platelets. The units are suspended in saline, with very little plasma proteins remaining. Washed RBCs have a 24 hour expiration date. The recovery and function of platelets after washing are severely impaired. Washed platelets have a 4 hour expiration date.

RBCs may be frozen up to 10 years when their antigen makeup is considered ‘rare’ or for other special reasons. When a transfusion service requests antigen negative blood not found in liquid units, frozen units may be available. Through a process of deglycerolization, the cells are thawed and suspended in saline for transfusion. Deglycerolized RBCs have a 24 hour expiration date.

CMV sero-negative cellular components are provided upon request. Both leukoreduced blood and CMV sero-negative blood have a much-reduced risk of transmitting CMV infection through transfusion.

Patients with Sickle Cell Disease should be given Hemoglobin S negative RBCs.

Available in regular dose or microdose. The regular dose (1 mL) contains 300 mcgs of of immune globulin, which will protect against 15 mL of Rh positive RBCs (30 mL whole blood). The microdose may be used only after termination of pregnancy up to and including the 12th week of gestation.

Used for treatment of bleeding due to Hemophilia A. The dose is dependent upon the nature of the bleeding episode and severity of Factor VIII deficiency. The dose must be calculated. Several different formulations of recombinant and plasma derived Factor VIII are available. Refer to package insert for dosage and half-life specifics.

Several different kinds of Factors are available. Refer to package insert for dosage and half-life specifics.

Available in pediatric and adult dosages. Used for passive immunization of exposed, susceptible individuals who are at risk of complications from varicella infection.

• Words in italics are not part of the label text. They are for identification assistance.
• “Bag” refers to an RBC component from an apheresis collection.
• “Part” refers to a component containing divided in the title.
• “Split” refers to a platelet pheresis split component.
• If a version of this table with barcodes added is desired, contact your blood center.