W P Sheffield1,2, V Bhakta1, C Jenkins3. 1. Canadian Blood Services Centre for Innovation, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. 2. Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. 3. Canadian Blood Services Centre for Innovation, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cryoprecipitate is a concentrated source of fibrinogen and other plasma proteins. Cryoprecipitate must be transfused within 4-6 h of thawing and storage at 20-24°C. We compared plasma protein activities in single or pooled cryoprecipitate units stored at 20-24°C for 0, 4 or 24 h. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual cryoprecipitate units (n = 36) were thawed, diluted with sterile saline and sampled over time. Cryoprecipitate pools of eight individual units were assembled either by serial passage of diluent (Method A, n = 6 pools) or by separate dilution into a single collection bag (Method B, n = 6 pools). Fibrinogen, factor VIII, factor XIII and von Willebrand factor activities were measured. RESULTS: No significant losses in activities were found relative to at-thaw values after either 4 or 24 h of storage of individual cryoprecipitate units at 20-24°C; 35 of 36 units contained >150 mg of fibrinogen. No significant differences were found between activities in single vs. pooled units of cryoprecipitate assembled using either method, or between cryoprecipitate pools made by Method A (80-160 ml volume) or Method B (160-240 ml volume) at 0, 4 or 24 h post-thaw; freezing and thawing of pools did not lead to significant activity losses. CONCLUSION: The stability of fibrinogen and other factors in thawed cryoprecipitate stored at 20-24°C suggests that the shelf life may be safely extended to 24 h provided that sterility is maintained.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cryoprecipitate is a concentrated source of fibrinogen and other plasma proteins. Cryoprecipitate must be transfused within 4-6 h of thawing and storage at 20-24°C. We compared plasma protein activities in single or pooled cryoprecipitate units stored at 20-24°C for 0, 4 or 24 h. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individual cryoprecipitate units (n = 36) were thawed, diluted with sterile saline and sampled over time. Cryoprecipitate pools of eight individual units were assembled either by serial passage of diluent (Method A, n = 6 pools) or by separate dilution into a single collection bag (Method B, n = 6 pools). Fibrinogen, factor VIII, factor XIII and von Willebrand factor activities were measured. RESULTS: No significant losses in activities were found relative to at-thaw values after either 4 or 24 h of storage of individual cryoprecipitate units at 20-24°C; 35 of 36 units contained >150 mg of fibrinogen. No significant differences were found between activities in single vs. pooled units of cryoprecipitate assembled using either method, or between cryoprecipitate pools made by Method A (80-160 ml volume) or Method B (160-240 ml volume) at 0, 4 or 24 h post-thaw; freezing and thawing of pools did not lead to significant activity losses. CONCLUSION: The stability of fibrinogen and other factors in thawed cryoprecipitate stored at 20-24°C suggests that the shelf life may be safely extended to 24 h provided that sterility is maintained.