Chapter 9 - Component Preparation and Manufacturing

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the preparation and manufacturing of blood components. Blood components include red blood cells (RBCs), plasma, platelets and granulocytes which are prepared either from whole blood donation or by automated apheresis. Blood component manufacturing allows each component to be stored under optimal conditions and component therapy has largely replaced the use of whole blood due to the ability to choose components. Whole blood is the starting product for component preparation and manufacturing and it is not generally stocked in most blood banks because component therapy is more appropriate to target a patient's specific indications for transfusion. The component manufacturing from whole blood involves collection of the components into a primary bag containing an anticoagulant-preservative solution which allow the blood components to be stored for extended periods of time without a significant detrimental effect on the quality of the RBCs. RBC products are primarily used for treatment of symptomatic anemia or hemorrhage to increase tissue oxygenation and these products are prepared either by centrifugation of whole blood followed by removal of the platelet-rich plasma or by automated apheresis collection.