Cryoprecipitate

Overview
Cryoprecipitate is a blood product prepared from plasma. Each 15 mL unit contains about 100 U of factor VIII, 250* mg of fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, factor XIII, and fibronectin.

- There has to be a minimum of 80 IU of factor VIII.
 * NOTE: - Standards state that there has to be a minimum of 150 mg of fibrinogen per bag of cryo, however most bags have around 250 mg (the number used in many calculations).

Indications for giving cryoprecipitate include:
 * Haemophilia- Used for emergency back up when factor concentrates are not available.
 * von Willebrands's disease
 * hypofibrinogenaemia (low fibrinogen levels), as can occur with massive transfusions
 * bleeding from excessive anticoagulation- Plasma contains most of the coagulation factors, and is a much better choice when anticoagulation has to be quickly reversed.
 * massive haemorrhage- RBCs and volume expanders are much better choices for this.
 * disseminated intravascular coagulation