What
is the difference between Fresh Frozen Plasma and Plasma?
Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) contains all blood
clotting factors including the heat labile Factors V and VIII.
Fresh Frozen Plasma is used to treat a suspected or known deficiency
or malfunction in clotting Factors V and VIII. It is also used
to replace all clotting factors if a patient has had a massive
bleed where its total blood volume has been replaced in less than
24 hours. Fresh Frozen Plasma is also used to treat disseminated
intravascular coagulation (DIC).
Plasma contains all blood clotting factors with
reduced amount of the heat labile Factors V and VIII.
Both Fresh Frozen Plasma and Plasma can
be used to treat conditions such as parvovirus infection, coumarin/warfarin
toxicosis, albumin replacement and passive immunity to orphaned
neonates.