With more places using 5 day plasma would any of you consider using it to reconstitute a unit for an infant exchange transfusion?  How much does a maximum quantity of coag factors matter in that setting?  I have heard of them using albumin instead of plasma but that it is better to use something with coag factors--but how much?

go to chapter 16 of the 9th edition of the AABB Technical Manual, specifically pages 310-315.

I don't have access to manuals that old.  Care to enlighten me on what it says? Or are the old editions online somewhere I could look at it?

I don't think thawed plasma is recommended for that use.  The 17th AABB Manual, Ch 23 indicates Fresh Frozen Plasma should be used.  Because smaller volumes are used, no need starting out with the lower coag factor levels present in thawed plasma, even though thawed plasma works well in adults.

I agree, I wouldn't recommend thawed plasma for an infant exchange. More times than not, coagualtion factors is one of the reasons for the exchange. I try to give the neonates the most "bang for the buck." (so to speak).

Liz

At my facility when we thaw plasma in the computer we automatically change it to Thawed Plasma, because our system won't let us convert it after 24 hours. Technically, we would be using Thawed Plasma to reconstitute but we would use units that are freshly thawed or less than 24 hours old.

I sort of figured no one was crossing this line but wanted to check.  Thanks for the feedback.