According to the American Red Cross, 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S. They also estimate that approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S. Donated blood is lifesaving for people who have lost blood from an accident or surgery. It must be stored and transported in a very particular manner. This is the only way to guarantee the quality from when blood is donated, to when transfusion occurs.
The process of storing and transporting blood is complex, so we’ve put together this guide to learn about the best practices to preserve its quality.
Effects of Improper Blood Storage and Transportation
You need to store, and transport donated blood properly to preserve the quality. What happens if you don’t? Below are the effects of improper blood storage!
- Blood stored or transported outside the recommended temperatures loses the ability to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide upon transfusion.
- The bacterial contamination risk increases when donated blood is exposed to high temperatures.
- Super low temperatures below freezing point increase the chances of blood hemolysis. This can cause a deadly transfusion reaction.
Blood Cold Chain Management Cycle
What is the blood cold chain management cycle? This is the blood cycle from donation to transfusion. The process is a series of interconnected activities such as blood donation, processing, testing, storage, distribution, and transfusion.
It also involves personnel and equipment needed to handle donated blood safely. Ideally, the cycle begins before the blood collection. Blood bags need to be stored under the right temperature conditions awaiting donated blood.
What Constitutes Blood?
Blood can be transfused as a whole or its components. Knowing what constitutes blood is critical because it affects how you store and transport blood. Below is the breakdown of what makes up blood!
- Whole Blood; contains all blood components like plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets. It’s the most popular form of blood transfusion because it can help many people when separated into individual components.
- Red Cells; are produced in the bone marrow and are responsible for the characteristic color. They’re used to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the body tissues.
- Platelets; are made in the bone marrow and are responsible for preventing or stopping excessive blood loss after a cut.
- Plasma; is the liquid holding all blood components in place. It makes up about 60% of blood volume.
- White Cells; are the body’s defense system. They protect the body from diseases by producing antibodies to fight bacteria and viruses. Donated blood containing white cells can cause more harm than good. So, they’re always removed before transfusion.
How to Store and Transport Donated Blood
After testing and processing blood under the recommended conditions, it’s vital to store and transport it properly. The three primary blood storage equipment include:
- Blood storage refrigerators–used to maintain whole blood, red blood cell concentrates, and other blood components at +4°C ± 2°C. Different blood storage refrigerators include Upright freestanding units, Freestanding chest refrigerators, Cold rooms, and Solar and gas-powered storage equipment.
- Plasma storage freezers–used to maintain plasma at temperatures consistently colder than –25°C. The different plasma storage freezers include Upright freestanding freezers, Freestanding chest freezers, and Freezer rooms.
- Room temperature storage facilities–are used to maintain platelet concentrates and fresh blood under an optimum temperature range of +22°C ± 2°C. The different room temperature storage facilities are a Platelet agitator, Temperature controlled room, and Temperature controlled working environment.
How to Store and Transport Whole Blood and Red Cells
According to the American Red Cross, the recommended temperature for storing whole blood ranges between +4°C ± 2°C. You need to store whole blood at this temperature range to maintain its ability to transport oxygen.
The right storage bags should contain enough anticoagulant, a chemical preservative solution used to prevent the blood from clotting. Also, the recommended storage period is approximately 35 days. You’ll want to keep this in mind to guarantee blood quality.
The recommended temperature range for transporting pre-processed blood is +20 °C to +24 °C, which shouldn’t take longer than six hours. On the other hand, you should transport processed blood at a temperature range of +2 °C to +10 °C in under 24 hours.
Some specialists can treat and freeze red blood cells to last more than ten years. But this significantly depends on the available technology.
How to Store and Transport Blood Platelets
Standard operating procedures require platelets to be separated from whole blood within six hours after collection. This is done through the centrifugation process! This means whole blood should be stored between +20 °C and +24 °C before centrifugation.
This is also the recommended temperature range for storing platelet concentrates, i.e., +22°C ± 2°C. Lastly, platelet concentrates should be used within five days. This is the maximum storage time.
How to Store and Transport Blood Plasma
Blood plasma is first frozen and maintained in a blood bank freezer at a temperature ≤-18ºC and allowed to thaw. The thawed plasma is stored in a plasma storage freezer at a temp of 1-6ºC. Frozen plasma has a one-year shelf life from the collection date.
On the other hand, thawed plasma has a shorter shelf life. So it should be used within one day to five days maximum.
Wrapping Up
Donated blood can restore life! But this significantly depends on how the blood is handled during the cold chain management cycle. This means you need the right professionals to handle blood and blood derivatives.
More importantly, it’s best to store and transport the blood and its components according to the recommended standard operating procedures. A minor delay during transportation or poor storage equipment can be costly. This is why you need a reliable blood transportation system. The good news is that Medi-Ops got your back! We are a technology-enabled medical logistics and transportation organization. Contact us to learn more!