Blood and Blood-Derived Products

Blood is a major component of our body. Blood is made up of liquid and solid components. The liquid part of the blood is known as plasma. Plasma contains various salts, proteins, and water in it. The solid part of the blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These components are very important for various functions in our body. For that purpose, the separation and collection of these components are required. Apheresis is one of the techniques for the collection of different components of the whole blood. The collection of various components can be done by platelet-pheresis, leukapheresis, and plasmapheresis. After the separation of the components, the storage of the compound in the appropriate bag with a suitable preservative is very important. For that, cryopreservation of the 306 components can be done by DMSO, trehalose, and glycerol. Blood and blood components are lifesaving products that have a distinctive position in healthcare. WHO has recommended including all the blood components in the list of the essential medicines. Through these processes, we can provide a stable supply to patients when they need any blood products. This chapter aims to deliberate the basics of the blood collection, storage, and handling process along with the clinical use of blood components.