In a blood component-manufacturing unit of a blood bank, the whole blood is taken in triple bag. After collection, within 4-6 hours, these bags are placed in refrigerated centrifugal machine, which is run at certain time and r.p.m (rotation per minute) the separated plasma is then taken out (including platelets) in the second bag. The first bag is then sealed and kept in a constant temperature of 4 degrees C, which normally has a shelf life of 35 days (42 days in case of sagum bag).

The extracted plasma is then kept in -35 degree freezer for duration 24-48 hours, which is then called fresh frozen plasma (FFP). The FFP is then thawed in a constant rotating water bath, maintained at 4 degrees C. It is then placed in refrigerated centrifugal machine and centrifuged at certain time and r.p.m. After taking out from centrifugal machine, the plasma is squeezed out in third bag. A whitish jelly-like precipitate remains in the second bag, which is called cryoprecipitate. Cryoprecipitate is rich in factor VIII, whereas, the plasma is rich in factor IX.

These 2 products have to be kept in –35 degrees C, preferably cryoprecipitate in -60degrees freezer, which has a shelf life of two years. After thawing in the room temperature in water bath of 37degrees C, these products can be administered intravenously.

For the treatment of hemophilia as a whole, the plasma (FFP) is the main therapeutic material and for specific treatment for hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency), cryoprecipitate should be the drug of choice, whereas, in Hemophilia B (factor IX deficiency), cryo-poor-plasma (CCP) is the drug of choice.

NOTE:
Though, the whole blood is mandatory for the test of HIV, Hep B, Hep C, VDRL and MP in all blood banks in India, but still are not 100% safe because of the window periods of the viruses. Therefore, the recipients of blood and its products always have a risk of transmission of blood borne diseases like hepatitis and HIV.

The manufacturers of human plasma derived AHF (Anti-Hemophilic Factor), inactivate the viruses through stringent processes and make safer product for transfusion.