Frequently Asked Questions

The following information describes the Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM) program intended for requesting blood products to be used for in-vitro Clinical Research.

Blood components may be used by authorized intramural scientists throughout NIH for in-vitro Clinical Research. In many instances, these products are critical to the research program of the investigator. These products are biological materials that are not available from any outside source.

Leukapheresis Pack

Apheresis machines allow a large volume of white blood cells to be removed from donors over a 90 minute period. The types of white cells that can be targeted for collection are granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes. Each apheresis pack contains an average of 5x109 white cells. Specify the number of cells needed for your study. Special donor information available upon request is age, gender, race and HLA type. Leukapheresis packs are stored at room temperature and packs that have not been picked up by the next morning are discarded.

Apheresis Platelet Pack

Platelets can be targeted for removal by apheresis machines or can be removed from a leukapheresis pack, which also contains a large number of platelets. Each pack contains approximately 5.5 x 1010 platelets. Specify the number of platelets needed for your study. Platelets are stored at room temperature and packs not picked up by the next morning are discarded.

Plasmapheresis Pack

Plasma removed by apheresis contains active clotting factors and fibrinogen. Each unit contains approximately 250 ml of plasma and 25 ml of the anticoagulant ACD-A. Specify the volume needed for your study. Plasma will be stored in the refrigerator until pickup. Units not picked up within a week will be discarded. If active clotting factors and/or fibrinogen are not needed, please request liquid plasma (described below).

Buffy Coat

Buffy coat is the layer of white blood cells formed when a unit of whole blood is centrifuged. Buffy coats for research for approximately 30 ml and contain white cells, red cells and plasma. The daily availability of buffy coats is dependent on volunteer whole blood donations. The only donor information available on buffy coats is age, gender and race.

Liquid Plasma

Liquid plasma for research is harvested from volunteer whole blood collected CP2D anticoagulant. It is approximately 250 ml in volume. The product is stored at 4 C for up to one month.

Expired Red Cells

Expired red cells for research are packed RBC's collected in CP2D with Adsol additive. Expired RBC's are more than 42 days old. They are approximately 280 ml in volume.

Expired Apheresis Platelets

Expired Apheresis Platelets are platelet apheresis products originally intended for patient transfusion that have reached their five day expiration period. Products contain platelets and plasma and vary in platelet count and volume.