Blood vs. plasma: Storage, transportation and cold chain logistics
Blood transfusion is a vital part of the healthcare system, and it’s crucial for saving lives and improving well-being. In the U.S., demand for donated blood occurs every two seconds, and one pint can save up to three lives. Delayed or compromised blood and plasma can cost lives, so ensuring safe and effective transportation is critical.
TSS Thermalist
October 10, 2023 | R value
In this article, we will explore the similarities and differences between blood and plasma, how they move through the cold chain, how to safely and securely store and transport them, and the governmental regulations you need to follow.
Cold Chain Logistics in Blood Transfusion
Whole blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Depending on the specific medical requirements, blood can be used whole or separated into components after donation. Blood donors typically donate around one pint per donation.
Plasma, a yellowish liquid containing clotting proteins, electrolytes, and immune components, makes up 55 percent of blood composition, and it is frequently utilized for patient transfusions. Donating plasma is similar to a blood draw, but a specialized machine separates plasma, returning red cells, platelets, and saline to the donor.
After collection, the donated blood is chilled and transported to a processing center. There, various tests are conducted to assess blood type, detect diseases, and ensure the sample’s quality. Approved donations are packaged and stored until needed by hospitals or medical facilities for surgeries, trauma care, cancer treatments, and more. Cold Chain Logistics Blood Transfusion ensures the safe and timely transport of these critical medical supplies.
Blood vs. plasma: Similarities
Temperature:
Both blood and plasma require precise temperature control to maintain their integrity during storage and transportation. During transportation, additional precautions are essential to ensure that optimal temperature parameters are upheld.
Time:
Blood and plasma must be shipped in an expedient manner. While the shelf lives of each are different, both substances will degrade over time and become unusable.
Equipment:
For both blood and plasma, the use of monitored and well-designed equipment is paramount. Vigilance and adherence to proper protocols are indispensable when dealing with these medical substances.
Blood vs. plasma: Differences
Temperature:
Despite the shared need for temperature control in storage, blood and plasma require distinct temperature regulations. Blood must be refrigerated within the range of 2-6°C. Plasma requires rapid freezing at -70°C upon collection, followed by storage at -30°C. These temperature variations are crucial for maintaining the integrity of both products.
Time:
Blood and plasma also have differences in shelf life. Blood units can last for up to 35 days after extraction, while plasma can be frozen for up to a year. However, once thawed, plasma’s shelf life diminishes to just 5 days. Providing safe and timely transport of these critical medical supplies is Cold Chain Logistics Blood Transfusion’s top priority.
Equipment:
Because they require different temperatures, the choice of containers can also be different for blood and plasma. Tailored blood transport boxes or insulated containers equipped with ice packs are common for transporting blood. For plasma, specialized insulated containers that accommodate dry ice or a substantial volume of wet ice are essential to preserve viability.
Standards and Regulations
In the U.S., the collection, testing, preparation, storage, and transport of blood and blood components must comply with FDA regulations and guidance documents.
Specific guidance on packing is meant, at a minimum, to preserve acceptable conditions for transfusable products. For example:
- Red blood cells must maintain a temperature of 1-6°C during storage and 1-10°C while in transit
- Frozen products should not be thawed and refrozen
- No alterations should be made to the original container label
- The unit seal should not be broken or altered
- Hospitals must have a written policy in place to ensure proper handling of products during storage as well as in transit
- Visual inspection is performed
- Only validated shipping containers are to be used for transport
In order to adhere to these stringent regulations and ensure the safety and efficacy of blood products, cold chain logistics of blood transfusion plays a crucial role. Prior to the shipment of blood products, an inspection should be done to ensure that the labels and appearance of the components are adequate for release and subsequent transfusion, following the guidelines below.
Abnormal appearance:
- Icteric: Darker than normal pale yellow-tan. Quarantine for supervisory personnel.
- Pink to red plasma: May be due to hemolysis or bacterial growth. Quarantine for supervisory personnel.
- Lipemic: No harm to patient. Destroy lipemic plasma or platelets.
- Cloudy and pale green: May be due to bacterial growth. Quarantine for supervisory personnel.
- Pale green: Female donors may have pale green, but not cloudy, plasma due to birth control pills. These components are acceptable.
- Clots: Components with visible clots will be quarantined for supervisory personnel.
Additive red cells: To observe this component, adequate light is needed to observe the cell-plasma interface. The plasma should be observed for cloudiness and abnormal color, especially near the interface. The segment interface is acceptable to observe.
Fresh frozen plasma/cryoprecipitate:
Breakage of the component bag is to be observed and if broken, it cannot be shipped.
Platelets:
See abnormal appearance noted above for causes not to ship the product.
- Observe the bag for excessive air in the bag. Discard component if detected using discard procedure.
- Observe the platelet for small clots or clumps. If there are any detected, consult supervisory personnel.
- Observe the bag for grossly bloody (greater than 2% hematocrit) appearance. Discard if present using the discard procedure.
The cold chain: Storage and transportation
The blood cold chain constitutes a systematic procedure that ensures the safe storage and transportation of blood from its initial collection from a donor to its eventual administration to a patient needing a transfusion.
Numerous factors play a crucial role in the secure storage and transportation of blood from its donation phase to the eventual transfusion. The components constituting the blood cold chain encompass:
- Equipment dedicated to the blood cold chain, designed for both storage and transportation purposes
- Devices for monitoring temperatures
- Contingency systems for backup
- Competently trained personnel
- Comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures that offer guidance to users regarding the execution of each activity linked to the storage, transportation, and packaging of blood products
- Measurements employed for monitoring and sustaining control procedures
Whole blood must be placed in storage at a temperature between 1-6°C immediately after collection unless the blood is to be further processed into another component or the blood must be transported from the donor center to the processing laboratory.
If transported, the blood must be placed in temporary storage having sufficient refrigeration capacity to cool the blood continuously toward a temperature range between 1-10°C until arrival at the processing laboratory. At the processing laboratory, the blood must be stored at a temperature between 1-6°C.
Blood from which a component is to be prepared must be held in an environment maintained at a temperature range specified for that component in the directions for use for the blood collecting, processing, and storage system approved for such use by Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the Food and Drug Administration.
Even with stringent regulations, the blood and plasma cold chain remains exceedingly delicate. One point of vulnerability can cause severe, possibly fatal consequences.
TSS is highly experienced in packaging and shipping healthcare products, including expertise in regulations and certifications. We provide reliable and eco-friendly options for shipping blood and plasma. Our thermal packaging solutions offer precise temperature control and protection, ensuring that they arrive at their destination in optimal condition.
