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PA21.1-6 | Welcome to Blood Components & Clinical Uses
Learning Objectives
- Explain the rationale for component therapy over whole blood transfusion.
- Describe the preparation, storage conditions, and shelf-life of each major blood component.
- Enumerate the clinical indications for packed red blood cells, platelet concentrates, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate.
- Apply the concept of massive transfusion and recognise its metabolic complications.
- Briefly describe leukoreduction and irradiation as component modifications.
INSTRUCTIONS
Modern transfusion medicine has moved away from whole blood toward targeted component therapy — the same donated unit now treats multiple patients with different deficiencies. Understanding which component to reach for (and why) is a core clinical skill that connects haematology theory directly to emergency and ICU practice. This module builds on your Year-1 haematopoiesis and haemostasis foundation.
References
- Robbins & Kumar: Basic Pathology, 11th ed., Ch 13 (textbook)
- Wintrobe's Clinical Hematology, 14th ed., Ch 46 (textbook)
- AABB Technical Manual, 20th ed., Sections 8–9 (textbook)
Version 2.0 | NMC CBUC 2024