Stability of coagulation factors in thawed, solvent/detergent-treated plasma during storage at 4 degrees C for 6 days.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Transfusion of fresh-frozen plasma is still a pillar in emergency medicine for using to prevent dilutional coagulopathy or disseminated intravascular coagulation after severe blood loss, but thawing procedures can delay its availability. On the other hand, the wastage of plasma, once thawed and not transfused within a defined time-period, represents an inefficient handling of economic resources and is contradictory to blood donor intentions. In this study we investigated the stability of coagulation factor activities and plasma protein levels during 6 days of storage of thawed solvent/detergent (S/D)-treated plasma at +4 degrees C. Our results may form the basis for reconsideration of expiry times of thawed S/D-treated plasma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Five units of S/D-treated plasma (Octaplas) were thawed and warmed to 20 degrees C, then recooled and stored at +4 degrees C for 6 days. The activities of coagulation factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII, fibrinogen, antithrombin (AT), protein C, protein S and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) were measured on days 0, 1, 2, 3 and 6.

RESULTS

Except for protein S, the activities of all coagulation factors and inhibitors were at least 0.5 U/ml during storage at 4 degrees C for 6 days. The mean levels, during storage, of factors IX, X, XI and XII, vWF:Ag, fibrinogen and protein C were at least 94%, and of factors II, V and VIII, and AT at least 78%, of the levels immediately after thawing; the activity of factor VII decreased to 83% and of protein S to 43% of the baseline values.

CONCLUSIONS

Thawed S/D-treated plasma stored at +4 degrees C for up to 6 days still contains sufficient coagulation activities and plasma proteins to be regarded as suitable for transfusion in the established indications.