A 'Clinical Support Officer' at a Blood Service in New Zealand is seeking views whether or not plasma products should only be thawed in a dedicated water bath, or if plasma products can safely be thawed in a general laboratory water bath, such as might be used during laboratory testing. For example, a small laboratory that only issues units of FFP 2 or 3 times per year might argue that a requirement for a dedicated piece of equipment solely for thawing FFP cannot be supported. If colleagues use water baths for thawing plasma and for other laboratory applications, please indicate how you maintain the quality of the thawed products.

The following comments have been received.

ADDENDA Oct. 17, 2005

1. A Blood Bank QA Officer in Texas sees no reason for having a dedicated water bath for thawing frozen plasma products. In his practice they thaw plasma products at 30-37C (not to exceed 15 minutes of thawing for Cryoprecipitate per 21 CFR 606.122(n)(4)), so long as the container ports are protected from contamination. He states that in his opinion, placing the frozen product in a plastic bag designed for the purpose of thawing the product without contamination, and monitoring the temperature during the thawing process should be sufficient.

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Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator