Fresh Frozen Plasma

Definition: A component for transfusion prepared either from whole blood or from plasma collected by apheresis, frozen within a period and to a temperature that will maintain the labile coagulation factors functional.

Properties: This preparation contains normal plasma levels of stable coagulation factors, albumin and immunoglobulin. It contains a minimum of 70% of original Factor VIIIc and at least similar quantities of the other labile coagulation factors and naturally occurring inhibitors.

Methods of preparation: Plasma can be collected from whole blood not more than 6 hours from collection, and centrifuged to separate the plasma from the red cells; the plasma is then separated in other transfer bag to be immediately frozen.

Another method is directly from the donor through apheresis, where the donor is 'connected' to a machine which takes his whole blood, separates the plasma and stores it in a bag, returning back his red cells.

Storage & Stability: The stability on storage is dependent on the storage temperature. Optimal storage temperature is at -25 degrees Celsius or lower. FFP could be stored 12 months at temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius.