Microwave-thawed plasma for cryoprecipitate production

A microwave oven has been used to obtain rapid and controlled thawing of frozen plasma packs for cryoprecipitate production. The resulting factor VIII yields were higher than the average of 77.8 IU (in a volume of 17.2 ml) obtained by the slow overnight thaw procedures in routine use. Assays on 10 individual packs showed mean results of 142 +/- 24.5 IU factor VIII procoagulant activity, 188.6 +/- 51.68 IU factor VIII-related antigen, 0.152 +/- 0.05 g fibrinogen and 218.9 +/- 66.5 IU fibronectin in a volume of 23.2 +/- 6.6 ml. The results of this preliminary study indicate that microwave thawing of plasma is worthy of further investigation and should be reconsidered for routine production of cryoprecipitate and high yield fibronectin.