Products & Services
Handling, Storage and Returns
|
Component |
Blood Center Storage |
Handling at Facility | Return to Blood Center 3,4,5 |
| Red Blood Cells in AS-5 or AS-3 including leukoreduced |
1-6ºC in monitored refrigerator 42-day expiration1 |
Maintain in monitored refrigerator at 1-6ºC until administration2 | After compatibility test is no longer valid as indicated by the Transfusion Report. |
| Stock Uncrossmatched Group O Red Blood Cells |
1-6ºC in monitored refrigerator
42-day expiration1 |
Maintain in monitored refrigerator at 1-6ºC until administration2 | If Blood Center stock, return as soon as possible when crossmatched or ABO/Rh compatible uncrossmatched units arrive. |
| Washed Red Blood Cells |
1-6ºC in monitored refrigerator 24-hour expiration after preparation |
Maintain in monitored refrigerator at 1-6ºC until administration2 Expires 24 hours following washing. |
Following expiration if not transfused. Indicate reason for return on Transfusion Report or return of blood component form.6 |
| Red Blood Cells Divided Assigned Aliquots (~ 30-43 mL in AS-5) | 1-6ºC in monitored refrigerator
42-day expiration1 |
Maintain in monitored refrigerator at 1-6ºC until administration2 | Return as soon as possible if not transfused. Indicate reason for return on Transfusion Report or return of blood component form.6 |
| Whole Blood (~ 550 mL in CPD) or Red Blood Cells Divided Pedi Pack (~ 50-80 mL in CPD) |
1-6ºC in monitored refrigerator 21-day expiration1 Divided RBCs are discarded after 8 days |
Maintain in monitored refrigerator at 1-6ºC until administration2 | Return as soon as possible if not transfused. Indicate reason for return on Transfusion Report or return of blood component form.6 |
| Platelet Concentrate (pooled platelets prepared from whole blood collection) | 20-24º C with gentle agitation
5-day expiration before pooling |
Maintain at room temperature.
Expires 4 hours after pooling. |
Return as soon as possible if not transfused. Indicate reason for return on Transfusion Report or return of blood component form.6 |
| Platelets Apheresis |
20-24º C with gentle agitation 5-day expiration before preparation for issue |
Maintain at room temperature. Expires 4 hours from time of preparation for release. |
Return if not transfused. Indicate reason for return on Transfusion Report or return of blood component form.6 |
| Fresh Frozen Plasma and Cryo-Poor Plasma | -18º C or below in monitored freezer
1-year expiration When order is placed, Fresh Frozen Plasma will be thawed |
Maintain in a monitored refrigerator at 1-6º C2
Locations approved to receive frozen FFP: -18º C or below in monitored freezer. When administered for labile clotting factor replacement, transfuse as soon as possible after thawing and no longer than 24 hours. |
Return as soon as possible if not transfused. Indicate reason for return on Transfusion Report or return of blood6 component form. |
| Cryoprecipitate [includes both single units and pooled units (6 units/pool)] |
-18º C or below in monitored freezer 1-year expiration When order is placed, cryo is thawed as single units or six unit pools |
Maintain at room temperature. Administer immediately. Single units expire 6 hours from time of preparation for release. Pooled units expire 4 hours from time of preparation for release. |
Return as soon as possible if not transfused. Indicate reason for return on Transfusion Report or return of blood component form.6 |
| Granulocytes (Neutrophils) | Room temperature
24-hour expiration following collection Do not agitate |
Maintain at room temperature.
Transfuse immediately upon receipt. Expires 4 hours from time of preparation for release. |
Return as soon as possible if not transfused. Indicate reason for return on Transfusion Report or return of bloodcomponent form.6 |
- Expiration time is effective midnight on expiration date indicated on date stamped unless otherwise indicated.
- If transfusion delayed, do not allow blood to be out of monitored refrigerator for more than 30 minutes.
- Blood components not transfused must be returned to the Blood Center so the patient transfusion record can be modified to accurately reflect what components the patient has received. (All components shipped are assumed to be transfused unless returned.)
- All returned products must be accompanied by the original Transfusion Report. For refrigerated components, if the component (Red Blood Cells, thawed FFP, whole blood) has been stored at the storage temperature and not out of monitored storage device for more than 30 minutes, initial the “YES” box on the verification of temperature section of the Unit Record. If out of monitored refrigeration >30 minutes prior to transfusion or warmed to >10º C during transit, return as soon as possible and initial the “NO” box on the verification of temperature section of the Unit Record.For platelets, if the component has been stored at the appropriate storage temperature of 20-24ºC, initial the “YES” box on the verification of temperature section of the Unit Record. If the component has not been stored in this temperature range, initial the “NO” box on the verification of temperature section of the Unit Record.
- Facilities without monitored storage cannot receive credit for blood or components that are returned untransfused.
- Return units that have not been properly stored or have been out of monitored refrigeration > 30 minutes (“NO” is initialed) in a separate container from those that have been properly stored and monitored.
- See example of Return of Component form.
