Blood Components:
Processing, Storage,
and Clinical Use
PRESENTED BY: HAFIZ USAMA IQBAL
CONTENTS
•Introduction
•Processing of Blood Components
•Centrifugation Parameters
•Blood Bag Types and AntiCoagulants
•Pooled and Group Specific Plasma
•Compatibility Based on ABO and Rh Blood Group System
•Thawing and Storage Guidelines
•Refrences
Introduction
Blood components can be made in
many different ways, which depend
largely on the requirements of the
transfusion service and availability of
resources (donors, personnel,
disposables, funding and space).
Blood Components Overview
Blood is separated into specific components:
•Whole Blood
•Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBCs)
•Platelets
•Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)
•Cryoprecipitate.
Processing of Blood
Components
Whole Blood:
Processing:
• Whole blood is the source material for blood component preparation and if not
processed any further maintains its properties for a limited period of time
Storage:
• Temperature: 2–6°C
• Shelf Life: 35 days (CPDA-1 anticoagulant).
Clinical Indications:
• Massive hemorrhage
• Neonatal exchange transfusion
Processing of Blood
Components
Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBCs):
Processing:
• Centrifugation of whole blood (hard spin)
• Removal of plasma to concentrate red cells
Storage:
• Temperature: 2–6°C
• Shelf life: 35–42 days (depending on anticoagulant used: CPDA-1, SAGM)
Clinical Indications:
• Anemia, acute blood loss, hemoglobinopathies
Processing of Blood
Components
Platelets:
Processing:
• Light spin to separate platelet-rich plasma, then hard spin to concentrate
platelets
• Can be obtained via apheresis
Storage:
• Temperature: 20–24°C with continuous agitation
• Shelf life: 5–7 days
Clinical Indications:
• Thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction
Processing of Blood
Components
Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP):
Processing:
• Hard spin to separate plasma, frozen within 8 hours of collection
Storage:
• Temperature: ≤ -18°C
• Shelf life: 1 year
Clinical Indications:
• Coagulation factor deficiencies
Processing of Blood
Components
4. Cryoprecipitate:
•Processing:
• Thawed FFP at 1–6°C, cold centrifugation to collect cryoprecipitate
•Storage:
• Temperature: ≤ -18°C
• Shelf life: 1 year
•Clinical Indications:
• Fibrinogen deficiency, Factor VIII deficiency, von Willebrand disease
Component
Volume
(Approx)
Storage Temp
Shelf Life
Indications
Whole Blood
450-500 mL
2–6°C
35-42 days
Trauma,
massive
hemorrhage
PRBCs
200-350 mL
2–6°C
35-42 days
Anemia,
surgery, acute
blood loss
Platelets
50-70 mL/unit
20–24°C
5-7 days
Thrombocytop
enia, bleeding
FFP
200-250 mL
≤ -18°C
1 year
Coagulopathies
≤ -18°C
1 year
Hypofibrinogen
emia, DIC
Cryoprecipitate 10-15 mL/unit
Centrifugation Parameters
Light Spin: Lower speed for platelet separation
Hard Spin: Higher speed for separating denser
components like red cells
Machines Used:
Examples: Sorvall, Heraeus, Beckman Coulter
Tabletop centrifuges vs floor-standing models
Brands: Terumo, Fresenius Kabi
Centrifugation Parameters
Spin Type
Speed (RPM)
Duration
Purpose
Light Spin
~2000 RPM
3-5 minutes
Separates plasma
and platelets
Hard Spin
~3500 RPM
5-10 minutes
Separates red cells
and plasma
Centrifugation Parameters
Blood pack centrifuges must also have a refrigeration
capacity that enables the blood temperature to be
controlled during processing.
Blood Bag Types and
Anticoagulants
• Bag Types:
- Single: For whole blood.
- Double: PRBCs and plasma.
- Triple: PRBCs, plasma, and platelets.
- Quadruple: Includes cryoprecipitate.
• Anticoagulants:
- CPDA-1: Whole blood storage (35 days).
- SAGM: PRBCs additive for extended storage (42 days).
- ACD: Used for apheresis collection.
Double Bag System
Triple Bag System
Quadruple Bag System
Pooled and Group-Specific
Plasma
Pooled Plasma:
• Used in massive transfusion protocols and manufacturing plasma
derivatives.
• Advantage: Standardized clotting factor levels, large volumes available.
Group-Specific Plasma:
• Preferred for ABO compatibility in bleeding, plasma exchange, or
coagulopathy.
• Universal Plasma (AB): Emergency use when the blood group is
unknown.
Compatibility Based on ABO
Group
ABO Blood Group System:
Antigens on red cell surface: A, B, AB, O
Antibodies in plasma: Anti-A, Anti-B
Rh Blood Group System: Presence (+) or absence (-) of RhD antigen
Recipient Blood Group
Compatible Plasma
A
A, AB
B
B, AB
AB
AB (Universal Recipient)
O
O, A, B, AB
Thawing and Storage
Guidelines
• Thaw FFP and cryoprecipitate at 30–37°C using a water bath or plasma
thawer.
• Post-thaw storage:
FFP: 2–6°C, use within 24 hours.
Cryoprecipitate: Use within 4–6 hours if pooled, 24 hours if unpooled.
• Ensure strict adherence to thawing protocols to preserve clotting factor
efficacy.
References
• WHO Guidelines on Blood Component Preparation
• AABB Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services
• Technical Manual: American Red Cross
• Manufacturer Manuals (e.g., Haemonetics, Fresenius Kabi)
• Peer-reviewed journals: Transfusion Medicine, Vox Sanguinis