Find the incorrect statement regarding blood transfusion:

NORCET 10 Prelims-2026

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET 10 Prelims-2026

Explanation

This statement is incorrect because Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) is the liquid portion of blood and does not contain red blood cells (RBCs).
Hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen, is located inside RBCs.
Therefore, transfusing FFP does not increase a patient's hemoglobin level.
The primary indication for FFP is to replace clotting factors in patients with bleeding disorders or coagulopathy.

Option A: This statement is correct. FFP is thawed before use, and its labile clotting factors (especially V and VIII) degrade quickly at warmer temperatures. Standard practice requires it to be transfused within 24 hours of thawing to ensure its effectiveness.
Option B: This statement is correct. Although PRBCs are concentrated, transfusing any fluid volume, especially rapidly or in large amounts, can overwhelm the circulatory system. This condition, known as Transfusion-Associated Circulatory Overload (TACO), is a significant risk, particularly in patients with heart or kidney failure.
Option C: This statement is correct. The fundamental purpose of transfusing PRBCs is to increase the recipient's red blood cell mass. Since RBCs contain hemoglobin, which binds to and transports oxygen, this directly enhances the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.

Visual 1: Infographic: A visual chart comparing the composition and primary clinical uses of different blood components: Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBCs), Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), Platelets, and Cryoprecipitate.
Visual 2: Flowchart: A diagram showing the process of separating whole blood into its various components for transfusion therapy.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Indications and Properties of Blood Products helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A nurse must verify that the correct blood product is being administered for the correct indication. Giving FFP to an anemic patient without a coagulopathy is a medical error.
Nurses are responsible for monitoring patients for signs of transfusion reactions, including circulatory overload (TACO). Key signs include dyspnea, cough, and hypertension during or shortly after transfusion.
What if? A patient has a low hemoglobin of 7.2 g/dL but also an elevated INR of 2.5 and is actively bleeding. In this complex case, the patient would likely require BOTH PRBCs (to increase oxygen-carrying capacity) and FFP (to correct the coagulopathy and help stop the bleeding).

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core task: The question asks to find the 'incorrect' statement. This means three of the options are factually correct, and one is false.
Evaluate each option independently for its accuracy based on your knowledge of blood component therapy.
Analyze Option A: Is it true that FFP has a short shelf-life after thawing? Yes, due to labile clotting factors.
Analyze Option B: Can PRBCs cause fluid overload? Yes, this is a known complication (TACO).
Analyze Option C: Is the purpose of PRBCs to increase oxygen capacity? Yes, this is their primary function.
Analyze Option D: Is FFP used to increase hemoglobin? No, FFP is plasma and lacks red cells and hemoglobin.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Indications and Properties of Blood Products
Stem keywords: blood transfusion, Fresh frozen plasma (FFP), Packed RBCs
Lead-in keywords: incorrect statement
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks for the INCORRECT statement, meaning three options are true and one is false.

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