Platelet Transfusion

[NICU Mama]

When you give a platelet transfusion, do you draw up the platelets with a blood filter or not? We do when we give a PRBC transfusion, but not sure with platelets. One guideline I found on my unit said to use the standard blood filter, but most of the experienced nurses said not to because it damages the platelets. What do you guys do? I'm curious now. I do have the question out to my NM and nurse educator, but haven't heard back from them yet.

Thanks!

[Myethpio]

We used to use the filter, but now they come already filtered from blood bank.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

Everything comes filtered to us from blood bank, but last week I gave platelets from a bag sent back with the kid from the OR. The anesthesia resident brought me a filter to draw it up through.

[MegNeoNurse]

We filter EVERYTHING except meds and Lipids.

[texas2007, BSN, RN]

I may be confusing this with FFP but I believe our platelets come up with a big bag filter that we do when we are ready to give them, then we draw that up in a syringe. Sometimes they come already filtered from blood bank as well so it's rather confusing at times.

[preemieRNkate, RN]

We filter all blood products. They come up from blood bank in a nag, and then we spike and draw up what we need through a filter and we administer over a syringe pump.

[300g]

I'm curious about your NMs answer.

NICUs use leukocyte reduced blood products as a means of reducing alloimmunization in our immunocompromised populations. Leukocyte reduction is generally accomplished by filtration. Therefore, your blood products are usually filtered, without damage to the cells, prior to arrival at your bedside. All institutions that I've worked for have required bedside filtering as well.

You can damage platelets by administering them through a filtered line that you've previously run red cells through. Platelets will get caught up in fibrin strands. Therefore, we use new filtration lines with every blood product administration. Standard blood filters, in and of themselves, should not damage platelets.

Hope that helps!

[Preemienurse23]

We filter all blood products. We have a separate kind of filter or the blood and another one for the platelets.

[NICU Mama]

Thank you for all your replies. I'm still waiting for my NM and clinical educator's response. I'll let you know what they say.