Overview
Cryoprecipitate is the cold-insoluble precipitate recovered when fresh frozen plasma is thawed under controlled cold conditions. The precipitate is concentrated for fibrinogen, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, factor XIII, and fibronectin relative to the plasma it was made from, and is refrozen as its own product.
Classification
| State | Laboratory focus |
|---|---|
| Frozen, individual unit | Correct product identity, freezer storage, individual unit dating |
| Thawed, individual unit | Post-thaw dating window tracked from thaw time |
| Pooled (multiple units combined) | Multi-donor traceability documentation and a new post-pool dating clock |
Morphologic Features
Not a cell-morphology topic. Relevant visual findings after thaw/pooling are macroscopic: particulate matter, discoloration, and bag/tubing integrity.
Laboratory Characteristics
- Distinguish cryoprecipitate from FFP at selection and labeling, different preparation and protein-content profile
- Document thaw time for individual units and pooling time for pooled units, each starts its own tracked window
- Record every contributing donor unit number for a pool; incomplete traceability is a hold/escalate finding
- Inspect for particulate matter, discoloration, and bag/tubing integrity at thaw and before issue
Reference Intervals
No diagnostic reference interval applies. Frozen-storage parameters, post-thaw window, and post-pool dating window are institution-specific, verify current values against SOP and current AABB/FDA-recognized standards rather than citing a fixed universal figure.
Clinical and Laboratory Significance
Cryoprecipitate is not a diagnostic test; it is a transfusable product used to support fibrinogen and related factor replacement. Laboratory significance centers on correct product selection, pooling/traceability documentation, and dating-clock tracking rather than an interpretive result.
Differential Considerations
Not applicable in the diagnostic sense. The relevant laboratory distinction is product identity: cryoprecipitate (concentrated cold-insoluble fraction) vs FFP (the broader thawed plasma fraction it was derived from), confirm the correct product name/code before thaw, since order confusion between the two is a recognized preventable error.
Comparison Tables
Cryoprecipitate pooling/release-decision framing
| Finding / status | Laboratory action |
|---|---|
| Pool with complete multi-donor traceability documentation | Label distinctly, apply post-pool dating clock, issue per SOP |
| Pool with incomplete/ambiguous traceability documentation | Hold; resolve documentation gap before release |
| Attempted dating of a pool using longest individual unit's original expiration | Not correct, pooling starts its own, typically shorter, dating clock |
| Particulate matter, discoloration, or bag/tubing damage at thaw or issue | Do not issue; quarantine and evaluate |
Classification Frameworks
Not applicable, laboratory blood product, not a WHO disease classification.
Laboratory Notes
- Never issue an unlabeled or under-documented pool
- Unknown or ambiguous thaw/pooling time defaults to escalation per institutional SOP, not assumption
- ABO compatibility policy for cryoprecipitate issue is institution-specific, confirm current policy rather than assuming red-cell-style logic
References
Authoritative textbooks, guidelines, and reviews supporting this reference entry. Verify reference intervals, critical limits, and reflex criteria against institutional protocols and current guideline editions.
Textbooks
- Cohn CS, Delaney M, Johnson ST, Katz LM, eds. Technical Manual. 21st ed. AABB; 2023.
- Harmening DM. Modern Blood Banking & Transfusion Practices. 7th ed. F.A. Davis; 2019.
- McPherson RA, Pincus MR. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Elsevier; 2021.
CLSI and Professional Guidelines
- AABB. Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services (verify current edition and institutional adoption).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 . Blood and Blood Components (verify current institutional adoption).
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