BLOOD BANK CH 15 COMPONENT
PREPARATION AND THERAPY-COMPLETE
EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS | NEWEST VERSION
Why do we separate blood into components?
1. Helps provide appropriate therapy for each patient
2. allows for optimal storage of each blood component
3. maximizes a limited resource
4. Availability of specific components in large quantities
FDA requires safety, purity, and quality. Separating into components helps meet requirements
Components of whole blood
Plasma 55%
Buffy coat [leukocytes (wbc) & platelet] <1%
Erythrocytes (RBC) 45%
whole blood separates into these three layers when centrifuged
blood components
Whole blood (centrifuge)
RBCs ----Platelet rich plasma
(centrifugation)
platelet concentrate----- residual plasma
Fresh frozen plasma(ffp)--- cryoprecipitate
at bottom
Whole blood donation
primary bag with anticoagulant preservative solution
closed system (air tight to keep sterile)
,Whole blood collection
Storage temperature and time requirements immediately after collection will affect what
components you can prep and use.
Random Donor Platelets--unit cannot be cooled, must be Room Temp and be separated from
whole blood in 8 hours
No platelets to be separated refrigerate 1-6C
Whole Blood Collection Bags
special plastic that allows the proper mixing of gases, nutrients, and anticoagulants.
closed system
--air tight and sterile
--bags that have not been opened (open tube, bag, withdraw anything from) or pooled multiple
donors into
open system
a system in which bags have been opened, withdrawn from, or had multiple donors pooled into;
storage time decreases
Whole Blood
Contains blood as it is in the body; contains all components of the blood. Less than 0.4% of
transfusions are whole blood.
When is Whole Blood indicated
--active bleeding
--massive trauma
--patient who undergoes exchange therapy
Primary bag
--whole blood goes into a primary bag
--special plastic allows for mixing of gases, nutrient, and anticoagulant (usually citrate)
--usually a small pouch at the beginning to grab first few ml incase want to toss them (may have
skin cells or contam)
purpose of anticoagulant in bag
, --prevents blood from clotting
--which in turn helps extends length of time blood can be stored
--same as pink/lavender top in tubes when drawing blood
Amount of Anticoagulant in bag
--63ml for a 450ml bag (+/- 45ml)
--70ml for a 500ml bag (+/- 50ml)
size needle used to donate blood
16 gauge (large needle so do not squish and damage RBCs)
Single bag
only the primary bag
Double Bag System:
- For whole blood collection and separation of 2
different blood components [RBCs and Plasma]
- 1 primary bag + 1 satellite bag
Triple Bag System:
- For whole blood collection and separation of 3
different blood components [RBCs, Plasma, and a buffy coat that's comprised of WBCs & PLTs]
- 1 primary bag + 2 satellite bags
Quad Bag System:
- For whole blood collection and separation of 4 different blood components [RBCs, Plasma,
Cryoprecipitate and Platelets (ffp)]
- 1 primary bag + 3 satellite bags
special bag to ensure platelets good for 7 days
FFP
fresh frozen plasma;
--the non-cellular component of donor blood that is removed and frozen for later transfusion to
treat hypocoagulable states
PREPARATION AND THERAPY-COMPLETE
EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS | NEWEST VERSION
Why do we separate blood into components?
1. Helps provide appropriate therapy for each patient
2. allows for optimal storage of each blood component
3. maximizes a limited resource
4. Availability of specific components in large quantities
FDA requires safety, purity, and quality. Separating into components helps meet requirements
Components of whole blood
Plasma 55%
Buffy coat [leukocytes (wbc) & platelet] <1%
Erythrocytes (RBC) 45%
whole blood separates into these three layers when centrifuged
blood components
Whole blood (centrifuge)
RBCs ----Platelet rich plasma
(centrifugation)
platelet concentrate----- residual plasma
Fresh frozen plasma(ffp)--- cryoprecipitate
at bottom
Whole blood donation
primary bag with anticoagulant preservative solution
closed system (air tight to keep sterile)
,Whole blood collection
Storage temperature and time requirements immediately after collection will affect what
components you can prep and use.
Random Donor Platelets--unit cannot be cooled, must be Room Temp and be separated from
whole blood in 8 hours
No platelets to be separated refrigerate 1-6C
Whole Blood Collection Bags
special plastic that allows the proper mixing of gases, nutrients, and anticoagulants.
closed system
--air tight and sterile
--bags that have not been opened (open tube, bag, withdraw anything from) or pooled multiple
donors into
open system
a system in which bags have been opened, withdrawn from, or had multiple donors pooled into;
storage time decreases
Whole Blood
Contains blood as it is in the body; contains all components of the blood. Less than 0.4% of
transfusions are whole blood.
When is Whole Blood indicated
--active bleeding
--massive trauma
--patient who undergoes exchange therapy
Primary bag
--whole blood goes into a primary bag
--special plastic allows for mixing of gases, nutrient, and anticoagulant (usually citrate)
--usually a small pouch at the beginning to grab first few ml incase want to toss them (may have
skin cells or contam)
purpose of anticoagulant in bag
, --prevents blood from clotting
--which in turn helps extends length of time blood can be stored
--same as pink/lavender top in tubes when drawing blood
Amount of Anticoagulant in bag
--63ml for a 450ml bag (+/- 45ml)
--70ml for a 500ml bag (+/- 50ml)
size needle used to donate blood
16 gauge (large needle so do not squish and damage RBCs)
Single bag
only the primary bag
Double Bag System:
- For whole blood collection and separation of 2
different blood components [RBCs and Plasma]
- 1 primary bag + 1 satellite bag
Triple Bag System:
- For whole blood collection and separation of 3
different blood components [RBCs, Plasma, and a buffy coat that's comprised of WBCs & PLTs]
- 1 primary bag + 2 satellite bags
Quad Bag System:
- For whole blood collection and separation of 4 different blood components [RBCs, Plasma,
Cryoprecipitate and Platelets (ffp)]
- 1 primary bag + 3 satellite bags
special bag to ensure platelets good for 7 days
FFP
fresh frozen plasma;
--the non-cellular component of donor blood that is removed and frozen for later transfusion to
treat hypocoagulable states
