ABSTRACT
Whole blood represents the blood collected from a standard blood donation. The whole blood unit contains approximately 450 mL of blood and 63 mL of an anticoagulant/preservative solution, resulting in a hematocrit of about 40%. Whole blood provides the oxygen-carrying capacity of the red blood cells as well as the intravascular volume expansion properties of plasma. Red blood cells are prepared by centrifugation of a unit of whole blood, followed by the removal of 200–250 mL of platelet-rich plasma. Red blood cells are indicated for the treatment of symptomatic anemia in patients who require an increase in oxygen-carrying capacity and red blood cell mass. The dosage and administration of packed red blood cells are similar to that described by whole blood. Blood plasma derivatives are plasma protein concentrates prepared from large pools of human plasma. Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein produced primarily in the kidney when specialized cells detect reduced oxygen concentrations in the circulating blood.
