A pre-sealed overwrap method of protecting frozen blood components during water immersion thawing

Forty samples of frozen human plasma were thawed in a 37 C water bath following storage at -80 C for 48 hours. Twenty of these samples were protected by heat-sealed polyethylene overwraps prior to freezing and thawing. The remaining 20 samples were unprotected. None of the protected samples leaked during thawing. The thawing times for the protected overwrap method were prolonged. This method represents a practical procedure for reducing bacterial contamination when blood components are thawed in nonsterile water baths.