Processing of donated blood
91% of the blood collected in high-income countries, 72% of that in middle-income countries and 31% of that in low-income countries is separated into components.
Blood collected in an anticoagulant can be stored and transfused to a patient in an unmodified state. This is known as ‘whole blood’ transfusion. However, blood may be used more effectively if component therapy is practiced. One unit of donated blood may be divided into components, including red cells concentrates, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitates and platelet concentrates, to meet the needs of more than one patient.
Advantages of component therapy are:
- the recipient can be treated with only those blood components that are lacking, reducing the occurrence of adverse transfusion reactions;
- more than one patient can be treated with blood components derived from one donation;
- therapeutic support for patients with special transfusion requirements can be provided, for example, plasma that often is not directly needed for transfusion can be used manufacturing of Factor VIII concentrate for Haemophilia A patients;
- improved quality and functional capacity of each components when varied storage conditions and shelf lives were applied.
For a safe and effective blood component processing, the following elements are required:
- Commitment and support by national health authorities for a sustainable, well-organized, nationally co-ordinated blood transfusion service, with adequate resources and quality system for all areas;
- Centralization of blood processing and testing within major centres to permit economies of scale by maximizing utilization of personnel and equipment and uniform standards;
- Effective and timely testing of all donated blood to ensure maximum safety and availability of blood components;
- Promotion of appropriate blood component therapy.
Consideration should be given to the use of surplus plasma for the production of plasma-derived medicinal products through fractionation, utilizing facilities either within or outside the country.
