24-hour frozen plasma

[balakech]

Is there anyone using the 24-hour frozen plasma?

Is it used in places where FFP is indicated?

Thank you

[bmarotto]

Yes we have been using it for several years. We have very active hepatobiliary and liver transplant services. When other clinicians saw these groups were accepting of the switch, we had no problem. We use it as an FFP equivalent.

[Seveets]

Other than a slight decrease in Factor 8 levels, these two products have been found to work identically.

We made the switch a while back but I don't remember anyone being told....

[John C. Staley]

We were not given the choice. Our blood supplier told us they would be providing nothing but 24 hour plasma. Luckily there have been no concerns. As far as we are concerned it is interchangable with FFP. We were worried about liver transplants and neonates but the neonatologists have accepted it and the liver transplants have gone well.

[bmarotto]

Seveets is correct. The only appreciable difference is a slight decrease in Factor VIII. Considering that FFP is not the treatment of choice for Factor VIII deficiencies, 24 hour plasma and FFP should be considered equivalent.

[balakech]

is there a concensus on degree of factor VIII loss compared with FFP.

And what happens with factor V.

[Eagle Eye]

Are you guys using 24plasma for 24 hrs after thawing or up to 5 days after thawing?

[John C. Staley]

Currently just 24 hrs but we are in the process of changing that to 5 days. Hope to be there by Sept. 1.

[Laurie Gillard]

Our blood bank is currently in the process of making the switch to "frozen plasma" from FFP (obviously, less than 24 hours)...FFP is not the treatment of choice for a Factor 8 deficiency, you get the concentrates from the pharmacy, but we are going to put a comment for the physicians who order plasma to call the medical director if the patient is being treated for a Factor 5 deficiency (which is very rare). The big incentive for us is the availability of plasma for our trauma patients. We haven't decided if we'll take the expiration date of the plasma out to 5 days...from the sounds of the other postings, a 5 day expiration appears to be the standard practice.

[JLF]

We are a very busy, Level 1 trauma service. We have been using 24 hour plasma with a 5 day expiration, for a few years. There have been no reports of ill effects. We do try to mix older dated with fresher dated for massive transfusions. We keep about 20 units pre-thawed.