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Old Wed Oct 3, 2007, 02:34 PM
Margie Margie is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Wylie, Texas
Posts: 42
expiration date on blood for transfusions

I receive two units of Packed red cells every 3-4 weeks. During the last transfusion, for some reason, I decided to read the label on the first unit, then the second. I was being given blood that would expire in 7-11 days. I did mental calculations on the number of red cells that might live long enough to help me, and it didn't seem promising. I asked the nurses what the expiration date meant; they said that the blood was thrown away after the expiration date. When I asked my doctor about the percentage of viable cells that might be left at that point in time, he had this blank look and obviously didn't know what I was talking about. He said the expiration date would not make any difference. I didn't pursue the matter. I will always check the expiration dates in the future.
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