Non-infectious serious hazards in plasma transfusion

The use of plasma in hemotherapy is not without hazards. This article will give an overview of non-infectious side-effects associated with plasma transfusion by dividing them into two categories: hazards associated with the donor or the processing of blood, which will be attributed to as blood safety; and hazards which are associated with the clinical use of plasma, attributed to as transfusion safety. After having installed preventive measures against TRALI in most countries, blood safety is about to reach a very high level for plasma. In contrast, transfusion safety will remain a relevant issue for the next decade of plasma therapy.