Washed RBC

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I know that washed RBC is the process of removing debris or dirty blood inside the body. I tried to look up the websites about when do we need to do it? Who can be qualified to do it? but nothing came up to answer my questions. I've never heard about washed RBC before and it makes me curious to find out. One more question is that where can i observe the procedure? I am appreciated to anyone can fill in the blank for me.

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I know that washed RBC is the process of removing debris or dirty blood inside the body.

I'm sorry, but what?

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That is procedure to remove the tissue debris in blood out and reinfuse the new blood in at the same time.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

There is no such thing as "tissue debris in blood". The "washing" is a part of apheresis protocol (separation of RBCs from other parts of blood) and used to maximally decrease plasma components such as immunoglobulins, kinins and other pro-inflammatory and immunogenic substances in final admixture. The plasma can be used for other purposes or returned to donor.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I know that washed RBC is the process of removing debris or dirty blood inside the body.

I think you are completely misinterpreting this. Blood that is donated is separated into its separate components. In a normal, healthy person there is no "dirt" in the blood.

The only washing I've ever heard of other than the initial separation is what we do with giving packed units of red cells while a patient is having heart surgery and on cardiopulmonary bypass. Our perfusionists will run the blood through the cell salvage system (which allows us to suction blood from the sterile field, filter out the RBCs, and retransfuse to the patient), which the purpose is to reduce the amount of preservatives that are in banked blood.

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thank you for all of you. I was reading the Nclex book by Saunder. One of the chapter it says about washing RBC is a procedure to remove the tissue debrie in the blood. However, it did not go detail about that. that is why i posted this topic and hope someone can answer my curiosity. i looked up on Youtube and one of video talks about washing RBC. For me, the procedure looks like dialysis. there are 2 ports that insert into patient's arm. One port is patient's Fatty blood goes through a machine, then comes out with bright red color into the other port. here is a video

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Oh my, I have no words right now... I just can't... All I'm going to say to the OP is consider the source of your information. If you are studying for the NCLEX in the USA, your best bet would be to use reputable sources for information. I'm guessing that English is not your first language, so perhaps that is where the confusion is coming from. There are a couple of ways and reasons to "wash" blood, none of which consist of the purpose or procedure seen in the video you posted.

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Can you explain more about the way they wash the blood? if you watch the video, what does that procedure call?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Can you explain more about the way they wash the blood? if you watch the video, what does that procedure call?

Commercial medicine with no therapeutic purpose. Edited to add a scam to part people from their money. A non evidenced based practice with potentially harmful and life threatening effects with no medical or therapeutic benefit whatsoever.

Blood is "washed" using cell saving techniques during surgery to allow for an autologous retransmission to reduce blood loss and potential for adverse reaction to large volumes of donated blood or a potential increased risk of developing antibodies. During plasma apheresis blood is "washed" to separate plasma demon cells for donation or therapeutic purposes.

Suggest you review reputable websites such as the American Red Cross or NY blood services web sites for legitimate procedures and current practices. Not random commercial you tube sites.

No you cannot walk in and observe these processes in the blood bank lab as there are strict personnel and quality control standards

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Commercial medicine with no therapeutic purpose.

That's being generous- I'd call it a scam.

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Specializes in critical care.

That video!!!!!!! Holy crap! So basically some American guy scores a dialysis machine, and convinces the population that, because blood that's had fluids added looks lighter, it's CLEAN! This man needs to be arrested for taking advantage of those people. This is absolutely disgusting and potentially very, very dangerous.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I know that washed RBC is the process of removing debris or dirty blood inside the body. I tried to look up the websites about when do we need to do it? Who can be qualified to do it? but nothing came up to answer my questions. I've never heard about washed RBC before and it makes me curious to find out. One more question is that where can i observe the procedure? I am appreciated to anyone can fill in the blank for me.

We do not wash blood because it's dirty. Nurses do not wash blood we may administer washed RBC per physician prescription as a blood component. All blood processing is handled by credential medical laboratory technicians or medical laboratory technologists with specialized training in a blood bank. You cannot observe the procedure as its automated and there are rigid personnel and quality control/quality assurance requirements in a clean environment.

This explains the legitimate use of washed RBCs as a blood component. Medscape: Medscape Access

They are used for patients with a history of or risk for an allergic reaction to typical blood antibodies.

Red Blood Cells | New York Blood Center

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