Coagulation products are expensive products used primarily for the prevention or treatment of bleeding episodes in patients with hemophilia and other congenital or acquired bleeding disorders. Some coagulation products are made from human or animal plasma and some are manufactured using recombinant DNA technology.

The shelf life of coagulation products is two to three years. Since demand is difficult to predict, products may not be requested for use before their expiry date, resulting in product waste. In 2006 the BC PBCO started the Fractionated Product Conservation Program (FPCP), with the objective of eliminating the expiry of coagulation products at BC hospitals. Under the program, all BC hospitals are asked to send near-expired (<6 months from expiry date) stock to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. The St. Paul’s Hospital transfusion service works with the BC Hemophilia Program to ensure that the redistributed product is used before expiry.

Procedure: Redistributing Factor Products – Issuing Site

Coagulation Factor Concentrate Redistribution in BC CSTM Poster Presentation (June 2009)