Blood products are artificially produced substances that mimic the blood. Platelets and plasma are the two main components of human blood. They are most commonly used in open heart surgery and as an exchange transfusion to replace a newborn’s blood. However, they are also used for a variety of other medical purposes, such as fighting off infections. Here are a few things to know about blood products. If you have an underlying medical condition, you should speak with your doctor before starting any treatment.
Blood products include whole blood, red blood cell concentrates, platelets, and plasma. The components are then processed under pharmaceutical manufacturing conditions to make different types of pharmaceuticals. Generally, transfusions of blood components are a life-saving procedure. Because they can be life-saving, the risks of transfusion-related injuries and infections are minimal. As a result, blood component transfusions are an important part of medical care and are often used to replace red blood cells and other essential blood elements.
Final Touch
The AABB’s National Blood Exchange publishes a weekly report on blood supply levels and availability. This report is especially useful for predicting peaks in demand for various blood products, including platelets. The report is published every Thursday to provide an accurate estimate of what the current blood supply situation is. The AABB’s national blood supply report is a good place to start. While it’s not always possible to predict the availability of a specific blood product, it’s a good idea to have a reliable source of information regarding its availability.
