Patients with history of severe allergic reactions to plasma-containing products. Patients who have absolute immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency and for whom no IgA-deficient RBCs are available. Patients at risk of hyperkalemia. Neonates with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia requiring maternal RBC transfusion that contains antihuman platelet antigen-1a (however, use of washed RBCs is not required.)
According to AABB:
Description: Washed components are typically prepared using 0.9% Sodium Chloride, Injection USP with or without small amounts of dextrose. Washing removes unwanted plasma proteins, including antibodies and glycerol from previously frozen units. The shelf life of washed components is no more than 24 hours at 1 to 6 C or 4 hours at 20 to 24 C. Washing is not a substitute for leukocyte reduction, and only cellular components should be washed. Indications: To reduce exposure to antibodies targeting known recipient antigens. To remove constituents that predispose patients to significant or repeated transfusion reactions (eg, removal of IgA-containing plasma in providing transfusion support for an IgA-deficient recipient or in rare recipients experiencing anaphylactoid/anaphylactic reactions to other plasma components).