Korean J Blood Transfus.  1995 Dec;6(2):217-223.

Thawing Fresh Frozen Plasma Using a Microwave Oven

• Chi HS
• Kwon SW
• Nah J

Abstract

Thawing fresh frozen plasma(FFP) by waterbath(WB) requires about 30 minutes, which is too slow in emergency situations and carries the risk of bacterial contamination of FFP. To solve these problems, a new thawing method using a microwave oven(MWO) has been developed. Twenty units of equally divided plasma from 10 units of plasma were frozen, stored at -55 degrees C, and thawed in parallel using microwave oven or waterbath. Coagulation factors, plasma proteins and thawing time were measured. Except for antithrombin III(MWO: 85.2+/-6.94%, WB : 90.8+/-9.14%, p<0.05), no significant differences were observed in the 18 other coagulation parameters and the plasma proteins studied. Mean thawing time by MWO was 5.9 minutes per 1 unit, 10.4 minutes per 2 units and 12.5 minutes per 3 units; by WB, it was 19.0, 20.0 and 22.0 minutes, respectively. In conclusion, FFP can be thawed faster using a microwave oven than using 37 degrees C waterbath and the thawed plasma proteins were generally equivalent to those of FFP thawed by waterbath.

MeSH Terms

Blood Coagulation Factors
Blood Proteins
Emergencies
Microwaves*
Plasma*
Blood Coagulation Factors
Blood Proteins