Choice of human plasma preparations for transfusion.

Abstract

HE RECENT licensure of pooled plasma, solvent/detergent treated (PLAS + SD| V.I. Technologies, Melville, NY) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) brings to three the number of plasma preparations available for transfusion in the United States. The other two preparations are fresh frozen plasma, donor-retested (FFPDR), and the traditional fresh frozen plasma (FFP) product. The newer products have been developed to address concerns about infectious disease transmission by transfusion. Although the therapeutic indications of these three plasma products are fundamentally the same, they differ in their potential to transmit infectious agents, in cost, and in availability. An ad hoc Committee of the American Association of Blood Banks summarized the current knowledge about pooled plasma, solvent detergent treated, x The current review considers the characteristics of the three products (Table 1), the theoretical risks associated with each product (Table 2), elements required for a rational decision, and a pragmatic approach to the prescription of plasma products (Table 3).