Storage of Blood Products and Wastage

Storage and Wastage of Blood

It is essential that blood and blood products are stored correctly to minimise any adverse incidents from occurring:

• Blood must only be stored in authorised blood refrigerators
• Blood transfusions should be commenced no longer than 30 minutes from the time the unit was taken from the Blood fridge. 
• Fresh Frozen plasma must be used within 4 hours of thawing if stored at room temeparture or within 24 hours if stored in an authorised blood fridge.
• Platelets should be kept agitated in Blood Bank until ready for use.

Avoidable wastage of blood and blood products will generate a 'Wastage Report' for the ward to complete and return to Blood Bank.  This is monitored by the Hospital Transfusion Committee.

Sample Storage

For patients with no recent transfusion history, the samples are stored for 7 days.  For patients transfused within the last 3 months, the samples are kept for 72 hours.  Pre-operative samples where the operation date is greater than one week in the future plasma will be separated and stored frozen for two months providing the patient has not been transfused within the last 3 months.