Extending the post-thaw shelf-life of cryoprecipitate when stored at refrigerated temperatures.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The post-thaw shelf-life of cryoprecipitate is 6 h, leading to high wastage. Storage of thawed cryoprecipitate at refrigerated temperatures may be feasible to extend the shelf-life. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of thawed cryoprecipitate stored at 1-6°C for up to 14 days.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cryoprecipitate (mini- and full-size packs derived from both apheresis and whole blood [WB] collections) was thawed, immediately sampled and then stored at 1-6°C for up to 14 days. Mini-packs were sampled at 6, 24, 48 and 72 h, day 7 and 14; full-size cryoprecipitate was sampled on day 3, 5 or 7. Coagulation factors (F) II, V, VIII, IX, X and XIII, von Willebrand factor (VWF) and fibrinogen were measured using a coagulation analyser. Thrombin generation was measured by calibrated automated thrombogram.

RESULTS

FVIII decreased during post-thaw storage; this was significant after 24 h for WB (p = 0.0002) and apheresis (p < 0.0001). All apheresis and eight of 20 WB cryoprecipitate met the FVIII specification (≥ 70 IU/unit) on day 14 post-thaw. Fibrinogen remained stable for 48 h, and components met the specification on day 14 post-thaw. There were no significant differences in VWF (WB p = 0.1292; apheresis p = 0.1507) throughout storage. There were small but significant decreases in thrombin generation lag time, endogenous thrombin potential and time to peak for both WB and apheresis cryoprecipitate.

CONCLUSION

Whilst coagulation factors in cryoprecipitate decreased after post-thaw storage, the thawed cryoprecipitate met the Council of Europe specifications when stored at refrigerated temperatures for 7 days.