Transfuse Fresh Frozen Plasma

Performed in Blood Bank
Related Test: Blood Type

TFFP

Fresh Frozen Plasma
FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma)
Plasma, Fresh Frozen
TFFP
Plasma Cryoprecipitate Reduced
Cryopoor Plasma
Thawed (5 day) Plasma

The patient must have a blood type on record in the Blood Bank.  If a blood type is not available, refer to Blood Type (BTFR) for specimen collection requirements.  Call Blood Bank for clarification, if needed.

Blood products may be ordered with specific special instructions.  These special ordering instructions MUST be included on the requisition.
These include the following:

• Donor Directed Units:  The physician has ordered blood products be collected from friends/relatives designated specifically for use by this patient. The units must be available at the blood supplier.
• Plasma for Pheresis Patient:  Indicate the total number of mL's to be transfused in the exchange volume field.
• Small Volume Transfusions: Indicate mL's requested in special request field
• Cryoprecipitate Reduced Plasma or Cryopoor Plasma: Add this comment if Cryoprecipitate Reduced Plasma is desired for exchange/pheresis transfusions.  Please note, Cryoprecipitate Reduced Plasma contains reduced amounts of Fibrinogen, Factor VIII, Factor XIII, and vWF.
• Plasma for Factor Deficiencies: Add order comment to order if patient is deficient in Factor V or Factor VII.
• Convalescent plasma: Add special instructions: "convalescent plasma" or use COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma [pp] orderable to order plasma.

Plasma products are stored frozen with a shelf life of one year. Fresh Frozen Plasma expires 24 hours after being thawed or 5 days after being thawed, depending on the hospital site.  When ordering plasma for patients with Factor V or Factor VII deficiencies, add order comment to order indicating patient is deficient in Factor or Factor VII.  Order for these patients will not be filled by Blood Bank with thawed (5 day) plasma.

INDICATIONS FOR USE:  Detailed information on recommendations for transfusion can be found in the "AABB Circular of Information for the Use of Human Blood and Blood Components" located on the AABB web site (link below).
http://www.aabb.org/tm/coi/Pages/default.aspx

TRANSFUSION:
Fresh Frozen Plasma is transfused for: 

• Significant coagulation deficiency with bleeding
• Coumadin overdose
• Thrombocytopenic Purpura
• DIC
• TTP/ITP (cryoprecipitate reduced plasma may be indicated) - Plasma exchanges Transfusion volume depends on the clinical situation and the patient's size. Various size packaging is available.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Plasma products should NOT be used when:

• Coagulopathy can be corrected more effectively with specific therapy, such as vitamin K or specific factor concentrates available from the pharmacy or can be corrected more effectively with cryoprecipitate (Fibrinogen, Factor VIII, or vonWillebrands factor deficiencies).
• Blood volume can be safely and adequately replaced with other volume expanders.

Warning: Thawed (5 day) plasma should NOT be used for patients with Factor V or VII deficiencies.

CONVALESCENT PLASMA:
Product is avaliable for use under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA and will be dispensed with discalimer statement; "Caution: New Drug- Limited by law to investigational use."