Administering Blood and Blood Products

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key blood products, blood typing terms, administration concepts, and adverse transfusion reactions.

Autologous Blood

A patient's own blood used for transfusion.

Homologous Blood

Donated blood from another individual used for transfusion.

Synthetic Blood Substitutes

Blood products derived from a laboratory, such as hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOC) like PolyHeme.

Antigen

Any substance on the surface of cells that elicits an immune response and binds with an antibody, serving as the body's marking system for self and non-self.

Antibody

A substance produced by the immune system in response to an antigen.

Type A Blood

Blood containing only Type A surface antigens and anti-B antibodies in the plasma.

Type B Blood

Blood containing only Type B surface antigens and anti-A antibodies in the plasma.

Type AB Blood

Blood containing both Type A and Type B surface antigens and no plasma antibodies.

Type O Blood

Blood containing neither Type A nor Type B surface antigens, but containing both anti-A and anti-B antibodies in the plasma.

Universal Donor

Blood type $O-$, which has no surface antigens and can be donated to individuals with Type A, B, and AB blood.

Universal Recipient

Blood type $AB+$, which expresses both A and B surface antigens and lacks antibodies to other blood types.

Rh Factor

A blood antigen classification system where Rh positive indicates the presence of Rh surface antigen and Rh negative indicates its absence.

Whole Blood

A transfusion product containing all blood components (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, clotting factors, plasma, and electrolytes) with a volume of $450\text{--}510\text{ mL}$ per unit.

Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBC)

A blood product derived from whole blood with $90[\text{\%}]$ of fluid removed, packaged in units of $250\text{--}330\text{ mL}$ with a hemoglobin of $23\text{--}27\text{ g/dL}$ and a hematocrit of $60\text{--}80[\text{\%}]$.

Platelets

Blood components developed in bone marrow that circulate for $9\text{--}12\text{ days}$ and assist in initiating, controlling, and contracting clots, with normal levels of 150,000\text{--}450,000/\text{\mu L}.

Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)

Un-coagulated plasma separated from red blood cells that contains water, proteins, salts, metabolites, and clotting factors, supplied in units of $200\text{--}250\text{ mL}$.

Cryoprecipitate (CRYO)

A concentrated form of clotting factors including Factor XIII, Factor VIII: VWF, Factor VIII: C, Fibronectin, and Fibrinogen, administered when fibrinogen levels fall to $50\text{--}60\text{ mg/dL}$.

Prothrombin Complex Concentrate (Kcentra)

A Coumadin reversal agent containing four Vitamin K-dependent clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X) administered as an infusion based on INR.

Albumin

A protein produced in the liver that constitutes $60[\text{\%}]$ of plasma and plays a major role in transporting fatty acids, thyroid hormones, and steroids.

Allergic Transfusion Reaction

An adverse reaction occurring within $30\text{ min}$ caused by recipient antibodies reacting to donor substances (such as plasma proteins), presenting with urticaria, pruritus, facial edema, wheezing, or anaphylaxis.

Bacterial Transfusion Reaction

An adverse reaction with onset within $30\text{ min}$ resulting from blood contamination during phlebotomy, processing, or thawing, leading to fever, chills, abdominal cramping, bloody diarrhea, and shock.

Febrile Non-Hemolytic Reaction

A non-hemolytic reaction with fast onset ($30\text{ min}$) where recipient antibodies attack donor white blood cells, causing a fever as high as 104\text{ }^\text{\circ}\text{F}, chills, headache, flushing, and flank pain.

Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction

An acute adverse reaction occurring within $15\text{ min}$ or less due to ABO or Rh incompatibility, causing immune destruction of red blood cells, hemoglobinuria, chest and flank pain, hypotension, and renal failure.