Particulate material may occasionally be noticed in blood products. The type of particulate is important to determine.
Types of endogenous particulates:
(1) white blood cell aggregates
(2) platelet aggregates
(3) cold agglutinins
Risk factors for formation of white blood cell aggregates (Patel et al):
(1) heavy centrifugation during preparation of components (5,000 g)
(2) donors with elevated total cholesterol (> 195 mg/dL)
Differential diagnosis:
(1) precipitate of additives to the blood collection bags
(2) bacterial or fungal contamination
(3) drug injected into product
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Specialty: Clinical Laboratory
