Can cryoprecipitate-reduced plasma be converted to thawed plasma and used within 5 days?

The blood bank supervisor from a Regional Medical Center in the South writes to ask "Can cryoprecipitate-reduced plasma be converted to Thawed Plasma and used within 5 days?" She wonders whether CPP and FFP apheresis units can be converted to Thawed Plasma. AABB Standards 5.7.5.12 and 5.7.5.9 identify the products AABB permits as source for Thawed Plasma, and appear to include Fresh Frozen Plasma by apheresis but not Cryoprecipitate Poor Plasma. Are facilities using Cryoprecipitate Poor Plasma for Thawed Plasma? How about Plasma frozen within 24 hours?

Editors' Note: The editors note the discussion and addenda in "Experience in the use of THAWED PLASMA" are germane to the discussion.

ADDENDA October 9, 2007

1.A Transfusion Services Program Manager from an East Coast region of a very large blood supplier provides a very helpful reply:

"Cryoprecipitate-reduced Plasma (CRP) may be used for up to 5 days after thawing, but should only be used for the indications for Cryoreduced plasma (generally for patients with TTP) and would NOT meet labeling requirements to be used for the indications of Thawed Plasma." She points out that The Circular of Information for CRP also states “this component should not be used as a substitute for FFP”. She provides a summary chart of the expiration periods and applicable references for various examples of frozen plasma components after thawing, noting that not all plasma product codes are included and there may be additional product codes applicable to the various sections.

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Ira A. Shulman, MD
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W. Tait Stevens, MD
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