A refrigerator used to store whole blood must be able to maintain a temperature in the ranges of

Blood, plasma, and other blood components are utilised every day in clinical and research environments for a multitude of uses, from life-saving transfusions to important haematology tests. All samples used for these medical activities have in common that they require to be stored and transported at certain temperatures. But why is this the case and what storage solutions are available for this?

Blood is made up of many different components which interact constantly with each other and the rest of our body: red blood cells bring the necessary oxygen to the cells of our body, white blood cells kill any pathogen they can find, platelets can prevent bleeding in case of injury, nutrients from our digestive system are transported by the blood flow, and many different kind of proteins with different functions act on a molecular level to help our cells survive, defend themselves and thrive.

All these components interact with each other either directly and indirectly and use chemical reactions often reliant on certain temperature to be able to function normally. In our body, where their ambient temperature is normally around 37°C, all these reactions happen normally, but if the temperature was to rise, the molecules would start to break and lose their functions, while if it was to become colder, they would slow down and stop interacting with each other.

Being able to slow down chemical reactions is of extreme importance in medicine once samples are obtained: blood bags and in particular red blood cell preparations kept at a temperature between 2°C and 6°C can be easily stored without the risk of it spoiling, thus allowing healthcare professionals to use the samples in a variety of ways. Similarly, once the blood plasma has been separated via centrifugation from the red blood cells present in a blood sample, it requires cold storage to maintain the integrity of its chemical components. This time though, the required temperature for long-term storage is of -27°C, therefore much lower than what normal blood requires. In summary, it is imperative that blood and its components are maintained at correct low temperatures to avoid any wastage of samples.

To achieve this, B Medical Systems has created a wide range of medical refrigeration solutions. Blood Bank Refrigerators, Plasma Storage Freezers and Ultra-Low Freezers, specialised equipment to safely store blood products at 2°C to 6°C, -41°C to -20°C and -86°C to -20°C respectively, are at the centre of the company’s Blood Management Solutions portfolio. Moreover, B Medical Systems provides Contact Shock Freezers for the rapid freezing of plasma. Designed with inclined freezing plates, these products ensure that the plasma is frozen to a core temperature of -30°C and below in the shortest time, thus preventing any substantial loss of Factor VIII, an essential protein involved in blood clotting, in the frozen plasma. Finally, the company’s Transport Boxes can provide a safe transport solution for any blood product at any temperature.

Blood and its components need to be stored at the right temperature as soon as they are extracted from the donor’s body to preserve all the important cells, proteins and molecules that can be used either for testing, research, or clinical procedures. B Medical Systems has created an end-to-end cold chain to ensure that blood products are always kept safe at the right temperature.

Written SOPs on blood services shall be maintained, regularly
reviewed, made available to all staff handling blood services.

LIST OF BLOOD COMPONENT DESCRIPTIONS

Cryoprecipitated Antihemophilic Factor
The cold insoluble portion of plasma processed from Fresh Frozen Plasma.

Cryoprecipitated Antihemophilic Factor, Pooled
Two or more units of Cryoprecipitated Antihemophilic Factor combined into one bag.The total volume will be indicated on the label. To assist in the pooling process, 0.9% sodium chloride (USP) may be added.

Fresh Frozen Plasma
Plasma separated from the blood of an individual donor and placed at -18°C or colder within 6 to 8 hours of collection from the donor, depending upon the anticoagulant or collection device.

Granulocytes Pheresis (a.k.a Apheresis Granulocytes)
A suspension of granulocytes in plasma prepared by cytapheresis.

Granulocytes/Platelets Pheresis (a.k.a Apheresis Granulocytes/ Platelets)
A suspension of granulocytes in plasma prepared by cytapheresis, with the concurrent collection of platelets.

Irradiated Blood Components
Blood or blood component that has been exposed to gamma irradiation to prevent proliferation of T lymphocytes. Includes the following:

Granulocytes Pheresis, Irradiated
Granulocytes/Platelets Pheresis, Irradiated
Platelets, Irradiated
Platelets Pooled, Irradiated
Platelets Pheresis, Irradiated
Platelets Pheresis, Leukocytes Reduced, Irradiated
Red Blood Cells, Irradiated
Red Blood Cells Leukocytes Reduced, Irradiated
Red Blood Cells Pheresis, Irradiated
Whole Blood, Irradiated

Liquid Plasma
Plasma separated from the blood of an individual donor and not frozen.

Plasma Cryoprecipitate Reduced
Fresh Frozen Plasma from which cryoprecipitate has been removed.

Plasma for Manufacture (a.k.a Recovered Plasma)
Plasma for use in manufacturing and prepared from allogeneic donations. Plasma selected for manufacture that has been collected from whole blood or apheresis plasma collected for transfusion that has expired(non commercial plasma derived products).

Plasma Frozen Within 24 Hours of Collection
Plasma separated from the blood of an individual whole blood donor and placed at -18°C or colder within 24 hours of the collection.

Platelets
A suspension of platelets in plasma prepared by centrifugation of whole blood.

Platelets Pooled
Two or more units of platelets that have been combined into one bag.

Platelets Leukocytes Reduced
Platelets Leukocytes Reduced are prepared by a method known to reduce the leukocyte number to < 8.3 × 105 in at least 95% of the components sampled.

Platelets Leukocytes Reduced Pooled
A suspension of platelets in plasma that has been leukocyte reduced. The leukocyte reduction process can take place either before or after the pooling process.

Platelets Pheresis
A suspension of platelets in plasma prepared by cytapheresis. Whole Blood undergoes centrifugation in a cell separator, with the return to the donor of components not collected.

Platelets Pheresis Leukocytes Reduced
Platelets collected by apheresis that are prepared by a method known to reduce the residual leukocyte number to <5 × 106 in 95% of the components sampled.

Red Blood Cells
Red cells concentrated by the removal of most of the plasma from sedimented or centrifuged whole blood.

Red Blood Cells Deglycerolized
Red blood cells to which glycerol has been added (eg. as a cryoprotective agent) and subsequently removed by washing with successively lower concentrations of sodium chloride (USP).

Red Blood Cells Frozen
Red Blood Cells that have been stored in the frozen state at optimal temperatures in the presence of a cryoprotective agent.

Red Blood Cells Leukocytes Reduced
Red Blood Cells prepared by a method known to retain at least 85% of the original red cells and to reduce the leukocyte number in the final component to < 5 × 106.

Red Blood Cells Low Volume
When 300-404 mL of whole blood is collected into an anticoagulant volume calculated for 450 +/- 45 mL or 333-449 ml of whole blood is collected into an anticoagulant volume calculated for 500 +/- 50 ml of whole blood.

Red Blood Cells Pheresis
Red Blood Cells in anticoagulant or in anticoagulant and storage solution that have been prepared by automated cytapheresis.

Red Blood Cells Pheresis Leukocytes Reduced
Red Blood Cells in anticoagulant or in anticoagulant and storage solution that have been prepared by automated cytapheresis that have been leukocyte reduced by a method known to retain at least 85% of the original red cells and to reduce the leukocyte number in the final component to < 5 × 10^6.

Red Blood Cells Rejuvenated
Red Blood Cells that have had 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and adenosine triphosphate restored to normal levels or above.

Red Blood Cells Rejuvenated Deglycerolized
Red Blood Cells that have had 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and adenosine triphosphate restored to normal levels or above, subjected to a cryoprotective agent and stored frozen at optimal temperatures. The cryoprotective agent is subsequently removed by washing with successively lower concentrations of sodium chloride (USP).

Red Blood Cells Rejuvenated Frozen
Red Blood Cells that have had 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and adenosine triphosphate restored to normal levels or above and then subsequently exposed to a cryoprotective agent and stored at optimal temperatures in a frozen state.

Red Blood Cells Washed
Red Blood Cells remaining after washing with a volume of compatible solution using a method known to remove almost all of the plasma. Depending on the method used, the preparation may contain variable quantities of leukocytes and platelets from the original unit.

Thawed Plasma
Thawed plasma prepared from Fresh Frozen Plasma or Plasma Frozen Within 24 Hours of Collection, that has been thawed and stored for up to 5 days.

Thawed Plasma Cryoprecipitate Reduced
Thawed plasma prepared from Plasma Cryoprecipitate Reduced.

Whole Blood
Whole Blood is collected in an anticoagulant/ preservative solution and is not further processed. This product should not be used as a source of platelets or labile coagulation factors.

GUIDELINES FOR THE TRANSPORT AND STORAGE OF BLOOD AND BLOOD PRODUCTS

Transport of Blood and Blood Products

Why is blood stored at 4 degrees?

Which of the following is responsible for causing transfusion associated graft versus host disease?