Blood factor VIII possible contaminants

Production of recombinant factor VIII (Table 12.2) has ended dependence on blood as the only source of this product, and eliminated the possibility of transmitting blood-borne diseases specifically derived from infected blood. In the past, over 60 per cent of haemophiliacs were likely to be accidentally infected via contaminated products at some stage of their life. 

Cryoprecipitate may also be used for patients with factor VIII deficiency and von Willebrand disease if desmopressin is not indicated and a pathogen-inactivated, recombinant, or plasma-derived product is not available. The concentration of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor in cryoprecipitate is not as great as that found in the concentrated plasma fractions. Moreover, cryoprecipitate is not treated in any manner to decrease the risk of viral exposure. For infusion, the frozen cryoprecipitate unit is thawed and dissolved in a small volume of sterile citrate-saline solution and pooled with other units. Rh-negative women with potential for childbearing should receive only Rh-negative cryoprecipitate because of possible contamination of the product with Rh-positive blood cells. 

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