Reference — Hematology
Blood Products Quick Reference
What each blood product contains, when it is given, and how fast it runs — plus the nursing note that distinguishes it. Volumes and times are typical adult conventions; the order and blood bank tag govern.
Educational use only. Product selection, dosing, and infusion rates come from provider orders and blood bank standards — verify every unit against the tag and your policy. This material supports nursing education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or medical direction. Always follow facility protocols and current provider orders.
Products at a Glance
| Product | Contains / Used For | Volume & Time | Nursing Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packed red blood cells (PRBCs) | Red cells with most plasma removedSymptomatic anemia, acute blood loss | ≈300–350 mL/unit · over 2–4 h (≤4 h) | Crossmatch required; 1 unit raises Hgb ~1 g/dL; the volume-overload product to watch in cardiac/renal patients |
| Platelets | Platelets (apheresis unit or pooled concentrate)Thrombocytopenia with bleeding, or prophylaxis below threshold | ≈200–300 mL · ~30–60 min | Highest bacterial-contamination risk (stored at room temperature); apheresis unit raises count roughly 30×10⁹/L; ABO matching preferred, not strictly required |
| Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) | All clotting factorsCoagulopathy with bleeding, warfarin reversal when factors are needed urgently | ≈200–250 mL · ~30–60 min once thawed | ABO-compatible plasma — the compatibility rules run opposite to red cells; use promptly after thawing |
| Cryoprecipitate | Fibrinogen, factor VIII, factor XIII, vWFLow fibrinogen (DIC, massive transfusion) | Small volume (~10–20 mL/unit), usually pooled · rapid | Think fibrinogen replacement; doses are multi-unit pools |
| Albumin (5% / 25%) | Plasma protein — no clotting factors, no cellsVolume expansion, oncotic support (e.g., large-volume paracentesis) | Rate per indication and concentration | Not a clotting product and not crossmatched; 25% pulls fluid intravascularly — overload risk in cardiac/renal patients |
Rules That Apply to Everything
• Filtered blood administration tubing, primed with 0.9% normal saline — no LR, no dextrose, no meds in the line
• Two-person bedside verification before anything infuses
• Start within ~30 minutes of release; cellular products complete within 4 hours
• Baseline vitals, recheck at 15 minutes, then per policy — stay with the patient for the first 15 minutes
• Any new symptom = stop first, investigate second
Special Preparations
• Leukoreduced — white cells filtered out; reduces febrile reactions and CMV transmission risk
• Irradiated — prevents transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease in severely immunocompromised recipients
• Washed — plasma proteins removed; for recurrent severe allergic reactions or IgA deficiency
• CMV-negative — for CMV-seronegative immunocompromised patients and neonates per policy
Related Resources
Standards & sources
Fact-checked Jun 21, 2026This page is written to align with AABB (transfusion standards) · American Society of Hematology (ASH). It is an educational summary, not a citation of any single document — always verify specific doses, values, and protocols against current guidelines and your facility policy. How we source content →