Transfusions for clotting problems

Information for the public

In some people, blood doesn't clot as well as it should, and they may bleed for longer than normal. You may be offered a transfusion of platelets, fresh frozen plasma, or cryoprecipitate to help with clotting problems:

If you have a condition called thrombocytopenia (a shortage of platelets) and you are bleeding.
If you are bleeding very heavily (but it's not life-threatening) and your blood tests show your blood is clotting too slowly.
If you are having an operation, and your blood tests show your blood is clotting too slowly.

Some people who are at high risk of bleeding may be offered a transfusion to stop problems from starting (a 'prophylactic' transfusion). This includes:

people with certain types of thrombocytopenia
people with clotting problems who are having an operation.