Haematology Flashcards
How often can a male donor donate blood
• Male donors can donate 470 ml of blood up to four times a year
How often can females donate blood
Female donors can generally donate 470 ml of blood every 16 weeks (to reduce the risk of
developing iron deficiency anaemia)
How often can platelet donors donate blood
Platelet donors can donate up to 24 times a year (minimal interval between donations is 14 days)
what are the lower limits of hb for a man
typically 130g/L
what are the lower limits of hb for a female
115g/L
Describe a unit of red cells
180–200 ml packed red cells 100 ml optimal additive solution 20ml residual plasma *total volume >300ml* haematocrit typical 0.55 leucocyte depleted * Can be stored for up to 5 weeks at 4oC +/- 2 * can be irradiated or CMV negative
what is the transfusion threshold if
< 65 years old with no cardiovascular or cerebrovascular problems
Usually only consider transfusion when Hb < 70 g/L
What is the transfusion threshold if
> 65 years old with no cardiovascular or cerebrovascular problems
Usually only consider transfusion when Hb < 80 g/L
what’s the transfusion threshold if
Known cardiovascular or cerebrovascular history (previous myocardial infarction, angina, hypertension, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease pulmonary oedema)
Usually only consider transfusion when Hb < 90 g/L
what is the transfusion threshold if
Patients with symptoms due to anaemia
Unstable patients bleeding heavily
Impaired marrow function
Consider transfusion when Hb < 100 g/L
describe Transfusion Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO)
Usually due to rapid or massive transfusion of blood components in patients with diminished cardiac reserve or chronic anaemia
• Vulnerable patients (> 70 years old, low body weight, cardiac failure, renal failure, hypoalbuminaemia or fluid overload)
• Clinical features include dyspnoea, orthopnoea, cyanosis, tachycardia, hypertension and pulmonary oedema
what is the normal platelet count
• The normal platelet count is 150–450 × 10/L
what are the two methods of production of platelet donations
Pooled Platelets
• Four whole blood donations are separated, the buffy coats are pooled and are then re‐ suspended in donor plasma
• Pooled product = higher donor exposure
Apheresis Platelets
Platelet‐rich plasma is collected by a machine while the remaining blood constituents are returned to the donor
Single donor = lower donor exposure • Higher yields
• Greater consistency
• HLA/HPA matched donors
what’s in a pack of pooled platelets
At least 240 × 10 platelets
• 250 ml of plasma (may cause transfusion
• Can be stored for up to 5 days (7 days if bacteriologically screened) at 22°C +/− 2°C and on a special agitator rack
reactions)
• 60 ml of anticoagulant
• Total volume 310 ml
• Leucocyte depleted
• May be irradiated or CMV negative depending on the clinical indication
what is the adult therapeutic dose for platelets
One pack (apheresis or pooled) is sufficient for an adult therapeutic dose (ATD) • One ATD should increase the platelet count by at least 20 10/L (typically 20–40 × 10/L in a 70 kg adult)
what are the BCSH guidelines for the use of platelet transfusions
Prophylaxis of haemorrhage in patients with platelet count < 10 × 10/L
• Thrombocytopenia with haemorrhage
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation
• Massive transfusion
• Platelet function disorders
• Cover for surgery or invasive procedure
list some contraindications to platelet transfusion
- Platelet transfusions are usually contraindicated in:
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
- Heparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Post‐transfusion purpura (PTP)
• But may be given in the context of life‐threatening haemorrhage
what’s in a unit of fresh frozen plasma
One donor per unit
• Typical plasma volume is 220 ml (varies)
• Anticoagulant volume 50 ml
• The unit volume can vary from 200–300 ml
• Fibrinogen concentration 20–50 g/L
• Factor VIII concentration > 0.7 IU/ml
• Stored at −25°C or below for up to 2 years
what are the BCSH guidelines for transfusion of fresh frozen plasma
Coagulation factor deficiency where no factor concentrate is available
• Acute disseminated intravascular coagulation with evidence of bleeding
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
• It may also be indicated in some other conditions with abnormal bleeding and coagulopathy, e.g. massive transfusion, liver disease and cardiopulmonary bypass
• FFP should never be used for the reversal of Warfarin anticoagulation when there is no evidence of severe bleeding
• FFP should not be used in the management of hypovolaemia