Definition: A component for transfusion prepared either from whole blood or from plasma collected by apheresis, frozen within a period and to a temperature that will maintain the labile coagulation factors functional.

Properties: This preparation contains normal plasma levels of stable coagulation factors, albumin and immunoglobulins. It contains a minimum of 70% of original Factor VIIIc and at least similar quantities of the other labile coagulation factors and naturally occuring inhibitors.

Methods of preparation: Plasma can be collected from whole blood not more than 6 hours from collection, and centrifuged to separate the plasma from the red cells, The plasma is then separated in other transfer bag to be immediately frozen.

Another method is directly from the donor through apheresis, where the donor is 'connected' to a machine which takes his whole blood, separates the plasma and stores it in a bag, returning back his red cells.

Storage & Stability: The stability on storage is dependent on the storage temperature. Optimal storage temperature is at -25 degrees celcius or lower. Examples:

(a) 24 months storage at temperatures below -25 degrees celcius

(b) 3 months storage at temperatures of -18 degrees celcius to -25 degress celcius.