Plasma Transfusion Products and Contamination with Cellular and Associated Pro-Inflammatory Debris.

Stored plasma units from trauma center blood banks were highly contaminated with leukocytes and platelets, at levels more than 15-fold higher than sufficient to elicit ex vivo inflammatory responses. In light of paradigm shifts toward the use of more empiric plasma for treatment of hypovolemia, this study suggests that new manufacturing and quality control processes are needed to eliminate previously unrecognized cellular contamination present in stored plasma products.