Blood may be transfused as Whole Blood or as one of its components.
Whole Blood contains
red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets suspended in a proteinaceous fluid called
plasma. Because patients seldom require all of the components of Whole Blood, it makes sense to transfuse only that portion which is needed by a patient for a specific condition or disease.
Each unit of blood can be benefit up to 4 patients.
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Red blood cells (42 days): Used for treatment of people with: chronic anemia resulting from disorders such as kidney failure or cancers; and acute blood loss as a result of trauma or surgery.
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Fresh Frozen Plasma (1year): Used to treat patients following trauma or transplantation.
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Platelets (7 days): Used to support patients undergoing treatment for some blood diseases and cancer and also to control bleeding following cardiac surgery and trauma.
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Cryoprecipitate (1year): It is prepared from Plasma and Contains blood clotting factors and is used for treatment of trauma patients and during cardiac/transplant surgery.
