BLOOD TRANSFUSION COMPETENCY PREP 2026 | ULTIMATE
NURSING STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS | CORRECT
ANSWERS | TRANSFUSION PROCEDURES, REACTIONS & PATIENT
SAFETY | DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
Section 1: Blood Components & Products (Questions 1–40)
Question 1
1. Which blood component is most commonly transfused to increase oxygen-carrying
capacity?
A) Platelets
B) Fresh frozen plasma
C) Packed red blood cells (PRBCs)
D) Cryoprecipitate
Answer
Answer C: – Packed red blood cells (PRBCs)
Rationale
PRBCs are transfused to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood in patients with anemia or
acute blood loss. They are the most commonly transfused blood component. ---
Question 2
2. What is the primary indication for transfusion of platelets?
A) Anemia
B) Thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction
C) Coagulopathy
D) Hypovolemia
Answer
Answer B: – Thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction
,Rationale
Platelets are transfused to prevent or treat bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia (low platelet
count) or platelet dysfunction. ---
Question 3
3. Which blood product is used to replace clotting factors in patients with coagulopathy?
A) Packed red blood cells
B) Platelets
C) Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
D) Cryoprecipitate
Answer
Answer C: – Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
Rationale
FFP contains all coagulation factors and is used to treat coagulopathy in patients with liver disease,
DIC, or massive transfusion. ---
Question 4
4. What is the primary indication for cryoprecipitate transfusion?
A) Anemia
B) Fibrinogen deficiency or factor VIII deficiency
C) Thrombocytopenia
D) Hypovolemia
Answer
Answer B: – Fibrinogen deficiency or factor VIII deficiency
Rationale
Cryoprecipitate is rich in fibrinogen, factor VIII, and von Willebrand factor. It is used to treat fibrinogen
deficiency and factor VIII deficiency. ---
,Question 5
5. Which blood component is indicated for volume expansion in patients with hypovolemic
shock?
A) Platelets
B) Fresh frozen plasma
C) Cryoprecipitate
D) Packed red blood cells (when oxygen-carrying capacity is needed)
Answer
Answer D: – Packed red blood cells (when oxygen-carrying capacity is needed)
Rationale
While crystalloids and colloids are first-line for volume expansion, PRBCs are indicated when volume
loss is accompanied by decreased oxygen-carrying capacity. ---
Question 6
6. Which blood product contains all coagulation factors and is stored frozen?
A) Cryoprecipitate
B) Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
C) Platelets
D) Packed red blood cells
Answer
Answer B: – Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
Rationale
FFP is plasma that is frozen within 8 hours of collection and contains all coagulation factors. It is
stored at -18°C or colder. ---
Question 7
7. What is the primary indication for transfusion of cryoprecipitate?
A) Anemia
B) Fibrinogen deficiency
C) Thrombocytopenia
, D) Volume expansion
Answer
Answer B: – Fibrinogen deficiency
Rationale
Cryoprecipitate is the preferred treatment for fibrinogen deficiency (hypofibrinogenemia). ---
Question 8
8. Which blood product is most commonly used to treat thrombocytopenia?
A) Packed red blood cells
B) Fresh frozen plasma
C) Platelets
D) Cryoprecipitate
Answer
Answer C: – Platelets
Rationale
Platelet transfusions are indicated for patients with thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 50,000/µL) or
platelet dysfunction. ---
Question 9
9. What is the typical storage temperature for packed red blood cells?
A) Room temperature
B) 1–6°C (refrigerated)
C) 1–6°C (refrigerated)
D) -18°C (frozen)
Answer
Answer C: – 1–6°C (refrigerated)
Rationale
NURSING STUDY GUIDE | PRACTICE QUESTIONS | CORRECT
ANSWERS | TRANSFUSION PROCEDURES, REACTIONS & PATIENT
SAFETY | DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
Section 1: Blood Components & Products (Questions 1–40)
Question 1
1. Which blood component is most commonly transfused to increase oxygen-carrying
capacity?
A) Platelets
B) Fresh frozen plasma
C) Packed red blood cells (PRBCs)
D) Cryoprecipitate
Answer
Answer C: – Packed red blood cells (PRBCs)
Rationale
PRBCs are transfused to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood in patients with anemia or
acute blood loss. They are the most commonly transfused blood component. ---
Question 2
2. What is the primary indication for transfusion of platelets?
A) Anemia
B) Thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction
C) Coagulopathy
D) Hypovolemia
Answer
Answer B: – Thrombocytopenia or platelet dysfunction
,Rationale
Platelets are transfused to prevent or treat bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia (low platelet
count) or platelet dysfunction. ---
Question 3
3. Which blood product is used to replace clotting factors in patients with coagulopathy?
A) Packed red blood cells
B) Platelets
C) Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
D) Cryoprecipitate
Answer
Answer C: – Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
Rationale
FFP contains all coagulation factors and is used to treat coagulopathy in patients with liver disease,
DIC, or massive transfusion. ---
Question 4
4. What is the primary indication for cryoprecipitate transfusion?
A) Anemia
B) Fibrinogen deficiency or factor VIII deficiency
C) Thrombocytopenia
D) Hypovolemia
Answer
Answer B: – Fibrinogen deficiency or factor VIII deficiency
Rationale
Cryoprecipitate is rich in fibrinogen, factor VIII, and von Willebrand factor. It is used to treat fibrinogen
deficiency and factor VIII deficiency. ---
,Question 5
5. Which blood component is indicated for volume expansion in patients with hypovolemic
shock?
A) Platelets
B) Fresh frozen plasma
C) Cryoprecipitate
D) Packed red blood cells (when oxygen-carrying capacity is needed)
Answer
Answer D: – Packed red blood cells (when oxygen-carrying capacity is needed)
Rationale
While crystalloids and colloids are first-line for volume expansion, PRBCs are indicated when volume
loss is accompanied by decreased oxygen-carrying capacity. ---
Question 6
6. Which blood product contains all coagulation factors and is stored frozen?
A) Cryoprecipitate
B) Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
C) Platelets
D) Packed red blood cells
Answer
Answer B: – Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
Rationale
FFP is plasma that is frozen within 8 hours of collection and contains all coagulation factors. It is
stored at -18°C or colder. ---
Question 7
7. What is the primary indication for transfusion of cryoprecipitate?
A) Anemia
B) Fibrinogen deficiency
C) Thrombocytopenia
, D) Volume expansion
Answer
Answer B: – Fibrinogen deficiency
Rationale
Cryoprecipitate is the preferred treatment for fibrinogen deficiency (hypofibrinogenemia). ---
Question 8
8. Which blood product is most commonly used to treat thrombocytopenia?
A) Packed red blood cells
B) Fresh frozen plasma
C) Platelets
D) Cryoprecipitate
Answer
Answer C: – Platelets
Rationale
Platelet transfusions are indicated for patients with thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 50,000/µL) or
platelet dysfunction. ---
Question 9
9. What is the typical storage temperature for packed red blood cells?
A) Room temperature
B) 1–6°C (refrigerated)
C) 1–6°C (refrigerated)
D) -18°C (frozen)
Answer
Answer C: – 1–6°C (refrigerated)
Rationale
