Plasma (blood transfusion)

plasma

Plasma is produced from whole blood donations or component donation by apheresis. It contains all of the coagulation factors.

• plasma components of the same ABO group should be transfused to patients wherever possible.
• plasma components do not need to be matched for RhD group as they contain no red cells or red cell stroma

Available plasma products include:

• fresh frozen plasma
  • can be used for reversal of anticoagulant effects.
• thawed plasma - may be stored at 33.8 to 42.8°F (1 to 6°C) for up to five days
  • has lower levels of factors V and VIII and is not indicated in patients with consumption coagulopathy (diffuse intravascular coagulation)

Reference:

• (1) Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee. Handbook of transfusion medicine (2013).
• (2) Sharma S, Sharma P, Tyler LN. Transfusion of blood and blood products: indications and complications. Am Fam Physician. 2011;83(6):719-24