Preparation of pooled cryoprecipitate for treatment of hemophilia A in a home care program.

Cryoprecipitate is used infrequently in home therapy for patients with hemophilia A since freezer storage is required and resuspension and pooling of thawed cryoprecipitate is cumbersome. We evaluated procedures for preparation of cryoprecipitate in an "open system" so that four to six bags of cryoprecipitate could be pooled after production and refrozen for home therapy. Factor VIII activity for pooled cryoprecipitate was 132 +/- 30 (mean +/- SD), 125 +/- 45, and 145 +/- 47 units per bag pooled in three separate studies. Cultures from cryoprecipitate pools and individual cryoprecipitate bags did not show contamination in the "open system" or with the water bath thawing procedure. The mean increment in factor VIII activity per unit per kg infused was 0.02 units per ml and the mean half-life was 10.5 hours in three patients with hemophilia A. Pooled cryoprecipitate was shown to be clinically efficacious and acceptable for use in home care programs for hemophilia A.