Blood components for hemostasis

Abstract

We present an overview of revised indications and doses for routinely transfused blood components. Targeted blood component therapy is one of the earliest models of personalized medicine, striving to achieve the tenets of the right dose at the right time for the right reason to the right patient. Despite rigorous quality assessment and federally mandated regulatory requirements, blood component therapy has fallen short of this goal. Transfusion support practices largely are dictated by expert opinion and tradition with few evidence-based recommendations. Blood component transfusions, while mostly regarded as safe, are not without risk for serious adverse outcomes. Pharmaceutical agents commonly used either in lieu of, or in addition to, transfusion support will also be discussed. © 2012 by The American Society for Clinical Pathology.