What is blood processing?

Blood processing is the process of taking donated blood and separating it into its components so that it can be used for a variety of medical purposes. Blood components that can be separated include red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate. The process of blood processing begins with collecting blood from a donor through a process called phlebotomy. The blood is then mixed with an anticoagulant to prevent it from clotting and is centrifuged to separate the red blood cells and plasma. The red blood cells are then resuspended in saline solution and stored at cold temperatures for future use. The plasma is further processed to remove cryoprecipitate and platelets. Cryoprecipitate is a frozen protein-rich fraction of plasma that contains clotting factors, and platelets are small blood cells that help control bleeding. Blood processing allows these components to be stored and used separately, providing life-saving treatments for a variety of conditions and medical procedures.