Is Ordering "Plasma" the Same as FFP in Hospitals?
Yes, in the United States, ordering "plasma" at a hospital is effectively the same as ordering Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), as these terms are used interchangeably in common practice to refer to any of several plasma products that are functionally equivalent for clinical purposes. 1
Understanding Plasma Product Terminology
The American Society of Anesthesiologists explicitly clarifies that "FFP refers to plasma frozen within 8 h after phlebotomy, PF24 refers to plasma frozen within 24h after phlebotomy, and Thawed Plasma refers to FFP stored up to 5 days at 1°–6°C after thawing. In the United States, it is a common practice to use these terms interchangeably." 1 This means when you order "plasma," you may receive any of these products depending on what your blood bank has available, and all are considered appropriate substitutes for standard clinical indications. 1
What You're Actually Getting
When ordering plasma, your blood bank will provide:
- Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP): Plasma frozen within 8 hours of collection 1
- PF24 (Plasma Frozen within 24 hours): Plasma frozen within 24 hours of collection 1
- Thawed Plasma: Previously frozen plasma that has been thawed and stored at 1-6°C for up to 5 days 1, 2
- Liquid Plasma (LQP): Never-frozen plasma stored at 1-6°C for up to 26 days (where available) 3
All of these products contain coagulation factors at concentrations sufficient for clinical use and are considered functionally equivalent for reversing coagulopathy. 1, 4
Clinical Implications
The key point is that all these plasma products provide similar quantities of coagulation factors - approximately one unit of any plasma product contains the same amount of coagulation factors as one unit FFP. 1 The modern blood bank stocks whichever product is most practical for their inventory management, and clinicians should not need to specify which exact type unless there's a unique institutional protocol. 4
Important Dosing Context
Regardless of which plasma product you receive, the standard therapeutic dose remains 10-15 ml/kg body weight to achieve the minimum 30% plasma factor concentration needed for hemostasis. 5 For a 70 kg adult, this translates to approximately 2-4 units (500-1000 ml). 5
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not assume you need to specify "FFP" versus "plasma" on your order - this distinction is unnecessary in U.S. practice and may cause confusion. 1 Simply order "plasma" with the appropriate number of units, and the blood bank will provide the most suitable product available. 1 The exception would be if your institution has specific protocols requiring particular plasma products for certain clinical scenarios (such as extended-storage thawed plasma for massive transfusion protocols). 2