Fresh frozen plasma kept at cryogenic temperatures in Bio Boxes during marine transportation

Abstract

Introduction: It is difficult to maintain fresh frozen plasma (FFP) at cryogenic temperatures during marine transportation, even with a power supply. Methods: In this study, without a power supply and at temperatures below -30 °C, we used BioBoxes used for transportation of coronavirus disease vaccines, for two demonstration experiments involving round-trip FFP transportation to Hachijojima Island (200 km from Tokyo) and Ogasawara (1,000 km from Tokyo). Results: We successfully transported FFP at a temperature of -70 °C or lower. There was no change in the properties of FFP and minimal change in the activities of clotting factors. Conclusion: We could transport FFP to an isolated island in BioBoxes in a passenger ship, without a power supply using only dry ice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that FFP does not get destroyed or thaw due to vibration of the passenger ship, even in an approaching typhoon, proving possibilities for stable supply of FFP.