INFORMATION FOR VETERINARIANS
  • What are the artifacts floating in the blood bag?

In is perfectly normal for some artifacts to develop during the storage of blood components. Please refer to the chart below to help you determine if the artifacts you are observing are normal or are possible contaminations.
WHOLE BLOOD & PACKED RED CELLS (RBC’S)
Artifact
What is it ?
What to do
Irregular clumps of white or off-white material
White blood cells and platelet aggregates
Use a blood filter when transfusing
Layer of white or off-white material floating on top
White blood cells and platelet aggregates
Use a blood filter when transfusing
Regular, entire white bodies
Possible bacteria colonies
DO NOT USE THIS UNIT. Discard into a biohazard waste container.
Visible haemolysis in the tubing segments or unit
Outdated or contaminated with bacteria
DO NOT USE THIS UNIT. Discard into a biohazard waste comtainer
White flecks or “chips”
Fat
Fat will dissolve into solution as the unit is warmed.

FRESH FROZEN PLASMA (FFP)
Artifact
What is it ?
What to do
Whitish stringy material
Precipitated coagulation Factor VIII and fibrinogens
Caused by thawing the unit in the fridge rather than in a 37° C water bath. Will be removed by blood filter.

PLASMA AND FRESH FROZEN PLASMA
Artifact
What is it ?
What to do
Milky white in color when thawedl
Fat
Safe to transfuse.
Regular, entire
white bodies
Possible bacteria colonies
DO NOT USE THIS UNIT. Discard into a biohazard waste container.


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