| dc.description.abstract | Background: Fresh frozen plasma is a critical substitute therapy in management of bleeding.
Increased risk of venous thrombosis has been described to be associated with high plasma levels
of several coagulation factors.
Methodology: This study was a longitudinal study involving time series analysis of fresh frozen
plasma stored at -18°C for five weeks. A sample of 180 ml plasma was obtained from the blood
centrifuged at 4000rpm which was aliquoted into three parts each containing 60ml. The first
aliquot was used to assess the changes in coagulation factors in FFP at baseline during the first
week of sample collection, the second aliquot was used to assess the changes in coagulation
factors in FFP storage at -18°C temp after three weeks of storage, the third aliquot was used to
assess the changes in coagulation factors in FFP storage at -18°C temp after five weeks of
storage. Coagulation factor analysis was performed using Erba Mannheim ECL 105 coagulation
analyzer, India factor results recorded. Thawing for subsequent coagulation factor analysis and
serial testing of stored cryoprecipitate and fresh frozen plasma was done using Stericox Plasma
Thawing Bath at 37°C, for 45 mins before before analyzing the samples. Standard storage
conditions for the aliquots were monitored and maintained to ensure homogeneity.
Results: The findings showed significant changes in the coagulation factors in FFP during
storage at -18 for a period to five weeks with chi-square value of 216.000 and asymptomatic
significance value (p-value) <0.0001* less than the standard alpha 0.05.
Conclusion: There was a constant decrease of coagulation factors in fresh frozen plasma during
storage at -18°C for 5 weeks at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kisii County | en_US |
