Modifications to Blood Components: When to Use them and What is the Evidence?

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2016 Jun;30(3):653-63. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2016.01.007. Epub 2016 Mar 31.

Abstract

Blood component modifications can be performed by the hospital blood bank for select clinical indications. In general, modification of blood components increases costs and may delay availability of the blood component because of the additional time required for some modification steps. However, the benefit of blood product modification may outweigh these concerns. Common modifications include leukoreduction, irradiation, volume reduction, splitting, and washing. Modification availability and selection practice may vary from hospital to hospital. In this article, available blood component modifications are described along with the benefits, drawbacks, and specific clinical indications supporting their use.

Keywords: Blood banking; Platelets; Red blood cells; Transfusion medicine; Transfusion reactions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood Component Transfusion*
  • Blood Safety / methods*
  • Disinfection / methods*
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Reduction Procedures / methods*