What is the hematocrit of packed red blood cells?
Similarly, you may ask, why would you give packed red blood cells?
Packed red blood cells are typically given in situations where the patient has either lost a large amount of blood or has anemia that is causing notable symptoms. Most people think that when they receive a blood transfusion, they are getting whole blood because that is what they what donate at a blood drive.
Herein, what are the components of packed red blood cells?
The whole blood which is a mixture of cells, colloids and crystalloids can be separated into different blood components namely packed red blood cell (PRBC) concentrate, platelet concentrate, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate.
It is a small amount. But, this is merely the floating dissolved potassium in 100ml of water. The cells themselves also have a large amount inside them (at an average intracellular K+ concentration of 100mmol/L, the 150ml of “dry” erythrocytes will contain 15mmol of potassium).