Whole Blood is rarely given to patients because it is wasteful and sometimes harmful to give blood components that are not needed. Whole blood transfusions are necessary when very large amounts of blood have been lost, otherwise blood components are given.

Red Blood Cells carry oxygen and are needed by surgical patients or those with anemia or kidney disease

Platelet Rich Plasma is an intermediate stage in the production of platelet concentrate and plasma components.

Frozen Red Blood Cells have been frozen to extend their storage period. Very rare blood types are frozen to insure they are always on hand.

Washed Red Blood Cells have been washed to prevent reactions in some sensitive patients.

Filtered Red Blood Cells have been filtered to prevent reactions in some sensitive patients.

Plasma is the yellow liquid portion of blood. It is also a source of proteins that stop bleeding by forming blood clots.

Platelet Concentrates are fragile blood cells needed by leukemia and other cancer patients to control bleeding.

Frozen Plasma to be manufactured into derivatives is stored and shipped in the frozen state.

Fresh Frozen Plasma must be processed and frozen within eight hours of the whole blood donation to preserve the less stable clotting proteins. It is used mainly for people with bleeding complications.

Cryoprecipitate, a part of the plasma, contains two important clotting factors found in whole blood. It is used to treat two common clotting disorders.

Fractionation is the process of breaking plasma down into "fractions." When plasma gets mixed with certain chemicals, proteins can be separated and processed into products which are stable and easily stored. Some of the more common fractions are as follows:

Albumin - used in the treatment of certain kidney and liver diseases. Because of the relative simplicity of storage and administration, it is also used for emergency cases, such as accident or shock victims, particularly where facilities for administering blood are not available or where time does not permit its use.

Plasma Protein Fraction - similar to albumin; the two products are often used interchangeably.

Gamma Globulin - contains the antibodies in plasma and is able to modify or prevent measles and other infectious diseases, such as some varieties of hepatitis.

HBIg, RHIg, VZIg - are gamma globulin products prepared from the plasma of donors with high levels of specific desirable antibodies.

Lyophilized Factor VIII - concentrates are used for the treatment of Hemophilia A.

Other Clotting Factor Derivatives - contain concentrated amounts of specific clotting factors and are used in certain less common clotting disorders.