Hi, everyone. Need information. When pulling RBC's from the closed system PediPak into a syringe, what is the expiration date and storage requirements of the aliquot. Also, where do I find the AABB Standard for this? There is a discussion a my job and the information is needed to settle a disagreement.

 Exp, is same as the mother product if closed system is used. Storage is same as mother product.

Expiration date of aliquots in syringes is determined by manufacturer recommendations of the syringe used, e.g., is it approved as a storage container and if so, for what time period at what storage conditions.  There is not a specific AABB standard for syringe aliquots.  See 5.1.4. and 5.7 which would apply. 

We follow the syringe manufacturer's recommendations which are 24 hours for a syringe, even after sterile docking. We try to prepare it right before transfusion though so it is as fresh as possible.

We use 4 hours expiration for syringe

blood product in syringe expire in 4hrs.  refere to technical manual.

 

blood product in syringe expire in 4hrs.  refere to technical manual.

Oops...yes, correct, it's 4 hours. Technical Manual 17th edition, p. 283 

We always used 4 hours for syringe expiration.  We never loaded a syringe until they were ready to transfuse but then all of our transfusions were "top ups".  We figured that the volume lost in a single syringe if wasted was a minor thing.  We designated a unit to each neonate and it was theirs until it outdated or the patient no longer needed it, which ever came first. 

The Technical Manual is a bit inconsistent.  On page 283 it says "Cellular components stored in syringes have an expiration of 4 hours."  On page 284, it gives us conflicting information, this time in reference to platelets: "The 6-hour expiration time is acceptable for syringe aliquoting using a closed system".

 

Syringe/filter manufacturers have given me even more conflicting information, stating that 24 hours is acceptable.  Apparently, adding a syringe/filter on using a sterile connection device does not create an open system (unless the weld leaks), but the shortened expiration of the product in the syringe is due to the potential for formation of microaggregates between the filtration time and the time the product is transfused. 

 

We sterile connect syringe/filters and give the syringe product 24 hours for RBCs and FFP, 4 hours for platelets. 

Correct me if I am wrong here but isn't the 4 hours until completion of transfusion i.e. if you have a syring that is 3 hours 55 minutes old you only effectively have 5 minutes to complete the transfusion?