Blood Donation, Collection and Component Processing
Donor qualification
Memorize the numbers: hemoglobin/hematocrit ≥12.5 g/dL (38%) for females and ≥13.0 g/dL (39%) for males; minimum weight 50 kg (110 lb); age generally ≥16–17 with consent; 8-week interval after whole blood donation (16 weeks after double-RBC apheresis); oral temperature ≤37.5 °C, pulse 50–100, systolic ≤180 mmHg, diastolic ≤100 mmHg. Arm preparation with chlorhexidine or iodine plus a diversion pouch reduces bacterial contamination, the leading infectious risk of transfusion.
Component specifics
- RBCs: 1–6 °C; 21 days in CPD/CP2D, 35 in CPDA-1, 42 with additive solution; frozen with 40% glycerol at ≤−65 °C for 10 years; deglycerolized units expire in 24 hours.
- Platelets: 20–24 °C with continuous agitation, 5 days.
- FFP: frozen within 8 hours of collection, ≤−18 °C for 12 months; once thawed, 1–6 °C and used within 24 hours.
- Cryoprecipitate: ≤−18 °C for 12 months; rich in fibrinogen, factor VIII, vWF, factor XIII and fibronectin.
- Leukoreduction to <5 × 10^6 residual WBC; irradiation 25 Gy centered dose (maximum 35 Gy).
Traps
Examiners test the 24-hour products (thawed plasma, cryoprecipitate, deglycerolized or washed RBCs) against the 5-day platelet and 42-day RBC figures. Remember that anticoagulant ratio is roughly 14:1 (63 mL for a 450 mL collection), and that a unit is not released until donor testing is complete and review of the collection record is documented.
Rule of thumb
"24 hours after thaw or wash; 5 days for platelets; 42 days for additive-solution RBCs; 12 months frozen."