Plasma

All plasma components must be ABO-compatible, but not necessarily group-specific, with the recipient’s red blood cells.

In an Emergency

Always select group AB plasma when the patient's blood type cannot be determined on a current specimen.

Specimen Requirements

A specimen is generally not required when there is an existing ABO/Rh type on record for the patient. Some hospitals have policies that require an ABO/Rh typing on each new admission. Specimen collection is required when there is no current record of the patient's ABO type.

Rh Compatibility

• Plasma products may contain trace amounts of red blood cells therefore immunization to red blood cell antigens may occasionally occur if Rh negative recipients are transfused with Rh positive plasma components.
• When large volumes of plasma components from Rh positive donors are transfused to Rh negative females of child-bearing potential, prevention of D immunization by use of Rh immune globulin should be considered. This is defined by the medical director of the hospital transfusion service and is dependant upon the age and clinical condition of the recipient.

Plasma Component Compatibility Table