← Blood Choices Primary Component
Packed Red Blood Cells
What it is
Concentrated red blood cells separated from whole blood. The most commonly transfused blood component.
Derived from: Whole Blood
If you accept vs. refuse
Accept Why some people accept
- Restores oxygen-carrying capacity in severe anemia
- Most commonly transfused blood product — widely available and well-studied
- Can be life-saving in acute hemorrhage when hemoglobin drops critically
Refuse Why some people refuse
- Carries risk of alloimmunization, infections, and immune reactions
- Alternatives exist: EPO, iron therapy, and surgical blood management can often avoid the need
- Some faith traditions prohibit receiving blood components from another person
Alternatives
Pharmaceutical Erythropoietin (EPO) A hormone that stimulates the body to produce more red blood cells. Used preoperatively to build hemoglobin levels before surgery.
Pharmaceutical Iron Therapy Oral or intravenous iron supplementation to treat or prevent anemia. Often used alongside EPO for preoperative optimization.
Related concepts
Topic Transfusion Risks Adverse effects of blood transfusion including infections, immune reactions, transfusion-related lung injury (TRALI), and iron overload.
Topic Faith & Conscience Religious and conscientious considerations in blood-related medical decisions. Some faiths distinguish between primary components and fractions.
Glossary Allogeneic From a donor — another person. Allogeneic blood transfusion uses donated blood from someone else.
Glossary Hemoglobin The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Low hemoglobin (anemia) is the primary trigger for transfusion.
Medical references
Hofmann et al. (2013) Patient Blood Management: A Systematic Review. Transfusion Medicine Reviews. Meta-analysis showing 11% lower mortality with PBM. →WHO PBM Guidelines (2021) World Health Organization guidelines on Patient Blood Management. Endorses bloodless care strategies as standard of care. →Clevenger & Richards (2015) Pre-operative anaemia management. Anaesthesia. Protocols for preoperative iron and EPO optimization. →
In your Directive
Your directive will note that you refuse packed red blood cell transfusions from donors.
Make this choice in your Directive
Your blood product decisions are recorded clearly and shared with your Care Team.
Create your Directive