Assessment of Internal Quality Control of Blood Products; Experience at a Regional Transfusion Centre from Northern Pakistan

Objective: To analyze internal quality control of blood components, including red cell concentrates, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and random donor platelets, to measure our blood bank performance. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion (AFIT), Rawalpindi Pakistan from Jul to Dec 2021. Methodology: Whole blood units were separated into red cell concentrates, fresh frozen plasma and random platelets by the platelet-rich plasma method. Cryoprecipitates were prepared from FFPs. Quality control was done on representative components. For red cell concentrates, hematocrit was measured. For platelet concentrates, pH and platelet yield were measured. For fresh frozen plasma, Factor-VIII assay and for cryoprecipitate, Factor VIII and fibrinogen assays were done. The blood components were also tested for bacterial cultures. Results: A total of 1130 units were analyzed for quality control, including 360 red cell concentrates, fresh frozen plasma, random donor platelets each and 50 cryoprecipitates. Red cell concentrates had a mean hematocrit of 68.5±3.7%. Random donor platelets had a yield of 10.1±1.4× 1010 / unit and a mean pH of 6.7±0.2. Fresh frozen plasma had a Factor VIII level of 2.2±0.98 IU/ml. Cryoprecipitate had a mean fibrinogen level of 202.8±27.8 mg/unit and Factor VIII132.5±54.1IU/unit. All blood components met internal quality control standards. Blood cultures were negative in 99.2% of random donor platelets tested. Conclusion: The internal quality control of blood products was in concordance with the national and international standards for quality control in blood banks.