A single platelet unit is derived from one whole blood unit collected. They must be used in 5 days. Pooled platelets from multiple donors from whole blood collections are cheaper to produce but the exposure to the recipient increases. Normal saline is used when providing vascular access and fluid volume when transfusing other products and pharmacologic agents. Normal saline is more readily accessible than albumin or FFP, it is relatively inexpensive, and it does not have the risk of viral transmission.
Albumin is useful as a plasma expander.
Albumin is not always readily accessible and it is expensive, but it does not have risk of viral transmission. Within an instrument that is essentially designed as a centrifuge, the components of whole blood are separated. One of the separated portions is then withdrawn and the remaining components are retransfused into the patient or donor. A 72 year-old woman with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding is brought to the emergency room after being found slightly confused at home by one of her neighbors. Further examination reveals that her stool is positive for occult blood, suggesting that she again has gastrointestinal bleeding.