Product Administration

This product can be stored at 1-6 °C, a common household refrigerator is adequate. Packed red blood cells (pRBC) should be gently agitated daily to allow adequate mixing of the red blood cells and the storage solution. This product expires 35 days from the date of collection.

Administration Method

The pRBc may be warmed to room temperature. Allow the blood to sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes. Mix 40 times.

or ... warm the bag in a water bath; water temp. at 37°C, in a zip lock bag. If a water bath is not available then warm the blood bag in a zip lock bag in a sink with warm water, use a thermometer to insure the temperature is 37°C. Mix 40 times.

Once the pRBC has been warmed, insert the bloodline filter into one of the ports on the blood bag. Hang the blood bag and begin administering at the desired rate. Do not warm in a microwave because of the metal clips on the bag.

The pRBC can be viscous and if they do not flow freely through the blood administration set line then 0.9% saline can be added. This can be accomplished with the use of a sampling site coupler. Simply insert this coupler into one of the ports of the blood bag and insert a needle to transfer the 0.9% saline. The 0.9% saline should be warmed to 37°C before injecting into the coupler. Do not warm greater than 37°C or lysis of pRBC could occur.  To minimize the risk of bacterial proliferation in pRBC and plasma products the transfusion should be completed within 4 hours.

This product should be transfused at a dosage of 6-10 ml/kg and a rate of 4-6 ml/min. The initial rate should be slower for the first 15-30 minutes to allow for early detection of severe transfusion reactions. Suggested rate is 0.25 ml/kg/hour.

This step may have to be omitted if transfusion is required on an emergency basis.

CAUTION!!

Do not use Lactated Ringers Solution, Dextrose or Plasmalyte, 0.9% saline is the only compatible fluid. The other solutions can cause lysis of the red blood cells.

*It is very important to monitor the animal during any transfusion for severe transfusion reactions. If the animal has a reaction, stop the infusion immediately and administer hydrocortisone 100 mg IV. Usually with the first transfusion, there should not be a reaction. For subsequent transfusions, pre medication may be administered 15 minutes prior to infusion of the whole blood.

Benadryl (conc. 50mg/ml) 2mg/kg diluted in 2 cc saline given slowly over 5 minutes, followed by 100 mg hydrocortisone given slowly over 5 minutes.

*Crossmatching is especially important when repeated transfusions are to be performed.

Reference: Cornell Veterinary Medicine

LifeStream Animal Blood Bank Inc. has compiled this information and to the best of our knowledge, it is accurate. However, each case is different and the attending veterinarian may have to alter the procedures in the best interest of each patient.

This product is stored at -20C or greater, in a freezer that produces frost.  This product may be kept frozen for one year from the date of collection.   At that time it can be relabelled as Frozen Plasma (decreased clotting factors) and be kept frozen for an additional four years.

Fresh Frozen Plasma products should be thawed in a water bath set to 37C.  The product should be placed in a zip lock bag before putting it in the water bath.  If a water bath is not available, thaw the unit in a sink with water at 37C (not greater than 37C). 

Use a thermometer to insure the temperature is correct. The use of a microwave is not recommended.

Do not thaw the product in the refrigerator as this may result in Cryoprecipitate forming in the unit.

Administration Method

This product should be transfused at a dosage of 6-10 ml/kg and a rate of 4-6 mls/min.

The initial rate should be slower for the first 15-30 minutes to allow for early detection of severe transfusion reactions.  Suggested rate is 0.25 ml/kg/hour.

This step may be omitted if transfusion is required on an emergency basis.

CAUTION!!

Do not administer with Ringers Solution, Dextrose or Plasmalyte as these solution are not compatible.

* It is very important to monitor the animal during any transfusion for severe transfusion reactions.  If the animal has a reaction, stop the infusion immediately and administer hydrocortisone 100mg IV.  Usually with the first transfusion there should not be a reaction.  For subsequent transfusions pre medication may be administered 15 minutes prior to infusion of the FFP.

(Benadryl 2mg/kg diluted in 2cc saline given slowly over 5 minutes, followed by 100mg hydrocortisone given slowly over 5 minutes).

 Reference: Cornell Veterinary Medicine

LifeStream Animal Blood Bank Inc. has compiled this information and to the best of our knowledge it is accurate.  However, each case is different and the attending veterinarian may have to alter procedures in the best interest of each patient.

This product is stored at -20C or greater, in a freezer that produces frost (keeps product colder).  This product may be kept for one year from the date of collection after which the clotting factors activity diminishes substantially.  

Cryoprecipitate should be thawed in a water bath set to 37C.  The product should be placed in a zip lock bag before putting it in the water bath.  If a water bath is not available, thaw the unit in a sink with water at 37C (not greater than 37C).  Use a thermometer to insure the temperature is correct.  The unit must be completely thawed.

The use of a microwave is not recommended.

Once the unit is thawed hold it in the palm of your hand and gently mix.

If the product is given prior to surgery it should be given within four hours of the event.

Cryoprecipitate has a half life of 6 hours.

 Administration Method

This product should be transfused at a dosage of 5 ml/min.

Peel Back one of the ports on the bag and insert the 80 micron filter.  For direction on the use of the filter please see instructions on the back of the box.

Draw the fluid (10-30mls) from the bag into a syringe.   Multiple units should be pooled into one bag and gently mixed.  Using a timer, infuse at a rate of 5ml/min.

 * It is very important to monitor the animal during the transfusion for severe transfusion reactions.  If the animal has a reaction, stop the infusion immediately and administer hydrocortisone 100mg IV.  Usually with the first transfusion there should not be a reaction.  For subsequent transfusions pre medication may be administered 15 minutes prior to infusion of the cryoprecipitate (Benadryl 2mg/kg “50mg/ml” diluted in 2cc saline given slowly over 5 minutes, followed by 100mg hydrocortisone given slowly over 5 minutes).

 * For a severe bleeding episode the ideal is to boost the animal to 50% Factor V111; for moderate bleeding a 30% rise in FactorV111 is ideal; for a minor bleed at least 10% Factor V111 is needed.

Our cryoprecipitate routinely assays at 2units/ml

To calculate the % rise: 

% rise required = units infused (2units) X volume

                                    (kg) WT X .4

LifeStream Animal Blood Bank Inc. has compiled this information and to the best of our knowledge it is accurate.  However, each case is different and the attending veterinarian may have to alter procedures in the best interest of each patient.

Whole Blood must be refrigerated at 1-6 C for 28 days.   Whole Blood should be gently mixed daily to allow adequate mixing with preservative.  Warm the unit to room temperature for 30-60 min or warm in a 37C water bath or use a sink with 37C water.  Always use a thermometer (RBC lysis will occur if temperature is above 37C).

Administration Method

Gently mix the whole blood by inversion at least 60 times.

Whole blood should be transfused using a 160-270 micron filter at a dosage of 13-22 ml/kg and a rate of 3-4 ml/min.

The initial rate should be slower for the first 15-30 minutes to allow for early detection of severe transfusion reactions.  Suggested rate is 0.25 ml/kg/hour.

This step may be omitted if transfusion is required on an emergency basis.

 *CAUTION!!

Do not administer with Ringers Solution, Dextrose or Plasmalyte in combination or in the opposite limb while infusing the whole blood.

These solutions are not compatible.

 *0.9% saline is the only compatible fluid*

 *It is very important to monitor the animal during any transfusion for severe transfusion reactions.  If the animal has a reaction, stop the infusion immediately and administer hydrocortisone 100mg IV.  Usually with the first transfusion there should not be a reaction.  For subsequent transfusions pre medication may be administered 15 minutes prior to infusion of the whole blood (Benadryl 2mg/kg “conc. 50mg/ml”diluted in 2cc saline given slowly over 5 minutes, followed by 100mg hydrocortisone given slowly over 5 minutes).

Cross-matching is especially important when repeated transfusions are to be performed.

Reference: Kirk and Bistner’s Handbook of Veterinary Procedure and Emergency Treatment

LifeStream Animal Blood Bank Inc. has compiled this information and to the best of our knowledge it is accurate.  However, each case is different and the attending veterinarian may have to alter procedures in the best interest of each patient.

Infusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma and Packed Red Blood Cells from the same donor

Store the Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) -20C or greater, in a freezer that produces frost (keeps product colder). This product may be kept for one year from the date of collection after which it must be relabelled as Frozen Plasma and can be stored for an additional four years.

FFP should be thawed in a water bath set to 37C. The product should be placed in a zip lock bag before putting it in the water bath. If a water bath is not available, thaw the unit in a sink with water at 37C (not greater than 37C). Use a thermometer to insure the temperature is correct. The unit must be completely thawed. The use of a microwave is not recommended. Once the unit is thawed hold it in the palm of your hand and gently mix.

Packed Red Blood Cells (pRBC) must be refrigerated at 1-6 C for a maximum of 35-42 days. pRBC should be gently mixed daily to allow adequate mixing of RBC with preservative. Warm the unit to room temperature for 30-60 min, or warm in a 37C water bath or use a sink with 37C water. Always use a thermometer ( RBC lysis will occur if temperature is above 37C).

Administration Method

FFP and pRBC can be transfused at the same time using a ‘Y’ filter or separately. FFP and pRBC should be transfused at a dosage of 6-10 ml/kg and a rate of 4-6 mls/min. The initial rate should be slower for the first 15-30 minutes to allow for early detection of severe transfusion reactions. Suggested rate is 0.25 ml/kg/hour. This step may be omitted if transfusion is required on an emergency basis. If pRBS are too viscous add 0.9% warmed saline (37C) via a spike coupler in one of the bags ports. Gently mix.

*CAUTION!!

Do not administer with Ringers Solution, Dextrose or Plasmalyte as these solution are not compatible.

*It is very important to monitor the animal during any transfusion for severe transfusion reactions. If the animal has a reaction, stop the infusion immediately and administer hydrocortisone 100mg IV. Usually with the first transfusion there should not be a reaction. For subsequent transfusions pre medication may be administered 15 minutes prior to infusion of the whole blood (Benadryl 2mg/kg “conc 50mg/ml”diluted in 2cc saline given slowly over 5 minutes, followed by 100mg hydrocortisone given slowly over 5 minutes).

LifeStream Animal Blood Bank Inc. has compiled this information and to the best of our knowledge it is accurate. However, each case is different and the attending veterinarian may have to alter procedures in the best interest of each patient.