1. What are blood bags
These are the disposable biomedical transparent flexible poly vinyl chloride(PVC) containers, designed to collect, process and store the whole blood and blood components.

2. What are the parts of blood bag system
The blood bag system is composed of several components including a blood donor bag, a donor tube which consists of a needle with a needle cover, a puncturable and concealable transfusion pot, and a clamp. These parts work together to ensure that the blood is collected and stored safely. While the blood bag system itself is not unique, there are companies like this company, a network of eight FDA-licensed blood centers, that specialize in providing a seamless scale-up of donor-derived source materials for medical purposes.

3. Mention the different types of blood bags
Single bag: Used for whole blood collection
Double bag: Used to separate packed cells and Plasma
Triple bag: Used to separate packed cells, plasma and platelets
Quadruple bag: Used to separate packed cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate

 

4. What is the most commonly used anticoagulant in blood bags?
CPDA: Citrate Phosphate Dextrose Adenine

5. What are the uses of the ingredients in the blood bag
Citrate– acts as anticoagulant by chelating calcium.
Dextrose- needed for metabolism of stored red blood cells.
Phosphate- lower acidity and have a higher concentration of 2,3 DPG and red cell phosphate
Adenine- improves the viability of red blood cells.

6. How many days does the whole blood or packed cells can be stored?
It can be stored up to 35 days under 2-60C if it is collected in CPDA.

7. What is SAGM?
Saline-adenine-glucose-mannitol: It is an additive added to blood bag which increases the shelf life of RBC from 35 to 42 days

8. What is the capacity of blood bags?
Available in 350 and 450 ml capacity

9. How are the blood bags stored
After collection, the blood units should be stored standing upright in baskets or lying flat on shelf. The bags should never be packed tightly nor should be stored near the freezer compartment/ in the door of the refridgerator.

10. What is the shelf life of platelets?
It can be stored up to 5 days under room temperature(220C) with continuous agitation