Understanding the benefits of universal plasma and cryoprecipitate in hospitals in England.

Background: Group AB plasma does not contain anti-A or anti-B antibodies and is therefore considered universal but is in limited supply (4% of the population). There is currently no licensed universal plasma available, and therefore current clinical guidelines for transfusion require the donor and recipient to be blood group compatible. We sought to understand the benefits of universal plasma to hospitals in England, to inform R&D priorities going forward.

Study design and methods: To understand the benefits of universal plasma (cryoprecipitate included), we distributed two surveys to hospitals (267 in total) in England.

Results: Safety was the perceived top benefit of universal plasma (95%), with cost identified as the main barrier to adoption (82%), although the majority of respondents were willing to pay more for universal components. Ninety-five respondents felt they would replace all or part of their stock holding with universal plasma, with 91% anticipating that their overall stock holding of plasma would reduce as well as there will be a reduction in their plasma wastage (by up to 25%). Hospitals (56%) thought that the availability of universal plasma would support more rapid provision of plasma for transfusion, particularly in emergency situations, with the emergency/trauma department deemed to be the area that would see the greatest benefit from these universal blood components.

Discussion: The response to both the potential clinical and operational benefits of a universal plasma and cryoprecipitate was positive.