MLT GlobeBlood Banking: Blood components & storage
109 Blood Banking MCQs on Blood components & storage with answers and explanations.
At what temperature are platelet concentrates stored in the blood bank?
Refrigeration causes platelet activation and fast clearance after transfusion, so platelets are kept at room temperature on an agitator. Red cells are stored at 2–6 °C and plasma frozen.
At what temperature must whole blood and red cell units be stored?
Red cells are refrigerated at about 4 ± 2 °C to slow metabolism and bacterial growth. Platelets are kept at 20–24 °C; plasma is frozen.
At what temperature must fresh frozen plasma be stored for a 12-month shelf life?
FFP is kept at ≤ −18 °C for up to 1 year (longer at ≤ −65 °C) to preserve labile factors V and VIII. Refrigeration or room temperature would destroy them.
Red cells collected in CPDA-1 without additive solution may be stored at 1–6 °C for:
Adenine in CPDA-1 supports ATP synthesis, extending storage from 21 days (CPD) to 35 days. Additive solutions such as SAGM allow 42 days.
What role does dextrose play in CPDA-1 anticoagulant-preservative?
Red cells rely on glycolysis; dextrose keeps ATP levels up during storage. Citrate chelates calcium and phosphate buffers pH.
Which blood component is kept at 20–24 °C with continuous agitation, with a usual shelf life of 5 days?
Cold induces platelet activation and clearance, so platelets are stored at room temperature with agitation; the bacterial risk limits storage to 5 (up to 7) days.
In ACD solution, the citrate component functions as:
Citrate chelates ionised calcium, a cofactor for several coagulation steps, so blood does not clot. Dextrose provides energy.
Red cells suspended in SAGM additive solution have a maximum storage time of:
Saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol extends red cell shelf life to 42 days at 2–6 °C. CPDA-1 alone gives 35 days.
Which product is stored at −18 °C or colder with a shelf life of about 12 months?
Frozen plasma components (FFP and cryoprecipitate) keep for 12 months at ≤ −18 °C. Platelets and granulocytes are kept at room temperature, red cells at 2–6 °C.
Cryoprecipitate is a rich source of:
Cryoprecipitate is the cold-insoluble fraction of FFP, concentrated in fibrinogen, FVIII, VWF, FXIII and fibronectin. Vitamin K-dependent factors remain in the supernatant.
Which anticoagulant is NOT used in blood-collection bags for transfusion?
EDTA chelates calcium irreversibly and harms platelet and red cell viability; transfusion bags use citrate-based solutions.
Platelet concentrates are stored at:
Cold activates platelets and shortens their survival, so they are kept at room temperature and agitated for gas exchange. Shelf life is usually 5 days (up to 7 with bacterial testing), limited by the risk of bacterial growth.
Cryoprecipitate is the component of choice to replace:
Cryoprecipitate is made by thawing FFP at 1-6 °C. It is rich in fibrinogen, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, factor XIII and fibronectin, and is used mainly for low fibrinogen.
Cellular blood components are irradiated to prevent:
Gamma or X-ray irradiation stops donor T lymphocytes from dividing, so they cannot attack the recipient. It is needed for immunocompromised patients, intrauterine transfusions and blood from relatives.
Whole blood collected in CPD anticoagulant has a shelf life at 1–6 °C of:
CPD and CP2D support whole blood and red cells for 21 days. Adding adenine (CPDA-1) extends this to 35 days.
What is the function of adenine in CPDA-1?
Adenine allows red cells to resynthesize ATP, improving post-transfusion survival and extending storage. Citrate, not adenine, prevents clotting by binding calcium.
Citrate in anticoagulant-preservative solutions prevents clotting by:
Citrate chelates calcium, which is needed for several coagulation steps. Heparin, not citrate, acts through antithrombin.
Red blood cell units must be stored at:
Red cells are stored refrigerated at 1–6 °C. The wider 1–10 °C range applies to transport, not storage.
Red cells washed in an open system and stored at 1–6 °C expire after:
Opening the system raises the risk of bacterial contamination, so washed red cells expire 24 hours after washing when refrigerated.
The main purpose of washing red cells is to:
Saline washing removes about 99% of plasma proteins, useful for recurrent severe allergic reactions or IgA-deficient patients. It does not prevent GVHD.