title: Coagulant stability and sterility of thawed S/D-treated plasma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Units of frozen S/D-treated plasma (SDP) must be transfused within 24 hours after thawing. To avoid waste, an attempt was made to determine how long SDP could be therapeutically effective after thawing and storing it at 20 degrees C.
  
  
  METHODS
  The microbiologic safety and the activity of labile coagulation factors were evaluated in units stored at 20 degrees C of thawed SDP units and FFP within 24 hours of collection (FFP24). Five SDP and FFP24 samples of each ABO blood group were cultured and assayed for coagulation factors daily over 5 days. Assays included FV, FVII, FVIIa, FVIII, F IX, FXI, protein S, antiplasmin, fibrinogen, prothrombin times (PTs), and activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTTs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the 80 bacterial cultures demonstrated growth under either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. FV, FVIII, F IX, FXI, fibrinogen, and the aPTT appeared to be stable in both thawed FFP24 and SDP. The PT increased slightly in thawed FFP24 and insignificantly in SDP. FVII decreased slightly in FFP24 but remained in the normal range, and FVIIa was low and constant. FVII was increased in SDP and FVIIa was markedly increased. Protein S decreased from initial normal values in FFP24 to very low values. Protein S was very low immediately after thawing in the SDP and continued to decline. Antiplasmin was normal and stable in thawed FFP24 but was low in SDP and remained constant after thawing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sterile SDP that is stored at 20 degrees C provides sufficient coagulant activity of labile FV and FVIII to transfuse it for up to 5 days after thaw. Caution is warranted by decreases in Protein S and antiplasmin, clinical evidence of coagulopathy in some recipients of SDP, and a recent manufacturer's warning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Nifong
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Light
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wenk
mesh_terms: D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D003029:Coagulants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003902:Detergents; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D013242:Sterilization; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D003029:Coagulants; D003902:Detergents