Basildon
& Thurrock General Hospitals NHS Trust Blood Transfusion Policy 1 The
Receipt, Storage and Transport of Blood Products 1.1.1.
1. Introduction
Blood is donated by unpaid donors and is processed by the National Blood Service (NBS) into three main components, these being:- 1.Red cell Concentrates 2.Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) 3.Platelets Stocks of red cell units and FFP are kept at Basildon Hospital Blood Transfusion Department; Platelets are ordered from the NBS by the BMS staff in the Blood Transfusion Department at Basildon, as required on a Named-patient basis. 1.1.2.
2. Storage
of Blood and Blood Products
Red
Cell Units Red cell units have a shelf life of 35 days from the time of donation if stored at 4oC in a specialised Blood Fridge designed to maintain the correct temperature. Once removed from a Blood Fridge blood, must not be allowed to warm up or cool down excessively; if it is not to be administered to a patient immediately, then it must be placed in a sealable insulated Blood box with a ‘Cold Insert’. Blood is transported between sites using sealed insulated Blood boxes with ‘Cold Inserts’ which are safe for up to one hour; Blood boxes can be found next to the Blood Fridges and Cold inserts are stored inside the Blood Fridge; Instructions are available in the Blood Issue Folder next to each Blood Fridge. Failure to store blood at the correct temperature (4oC +/- 2oC) can cause the blood to deteriorate (due to bacterial growth), which can have a catastrophic effect on any patient subsequently transfused with that blood unit Fresh
Frozen Plasma (FFP) FFP has a shelf life of one year from the time of donation, but only if it is stored in a -40 oC Freezer designed to maintain the correct temperature. When FFP is thawed and issued by the Laboratory, it should be transfused without delay; aside from the risk of bacterial contamination, this is important as the cloting factors in FFP deteriorate rapidly. When transporting FFP between sites, it must be sent in a Blood box with a Cold Insert in the same manner as for Red cell units. Platelets Platelets units have a shelf life of five days from the time of donation, but only if it is stored at 22 oC and aggitated correctly (in a purpose built Platelet Incubator). Under no circumstances must Platelet units be refrigerated or left unmixed for prolonged periods; once issued Platelets must be administered without delay. When transporting Platelets between sites, they must be sent in a Blood box without a Cold Insert. |
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