Which one of the following blood fractions is stored at – 40ºC
**Core Concept**
The storage temperature of blood fractions is crucial for maintaining their viability and potency. Blood fractions are components of blood that are separated through various techniques, such as centrifugation or filtration, to isolate specific proteins or cells. Different blood fractions require specific storage conditions to prevent degradation or inactivation.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is **Frozarin**, which is a type of cryoprecipitate. Cryoprecipitate is a blood fraction that contains high concentrations of clotting factors, such as fibrinogen, factor VIII, and von Willebrand factor. It is used to treat bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia. Frozarin is stored at -40°C to maintain the stability of these clotting factors. The low temperature prevents the degradation of these proteins, allowing them to remain functional when reconstituted.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is not a recognized blood fraction. It may be a distractor to test the student's knowledge of specific blood components.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because albumin is typically stored at 4°C, not -40°C. Albumin is a plasma protein that is used as a volume expander in shock or severe burns.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because whole blood is typically stored at 4°C, not -40°C. Whole blood is used for transfusions and is not frozen.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Cryoprecipitate is used to treat bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia A and von Willebrand disease. It is essential to store cryoprecipitate at -40°C to maintain its potency and prevent degradation of the clotting factors.
**Correct Answer: C. Whole blood is typically stored at 4°C, not -40°C, but the correct answer is actually not listed.