For Patients/Families

Packed cells
A slang term for a red blood cell transfusion made up of ‘packed’ red blood cells (PRBC). When donors give blood, the blood bank concentrates the red blood cells in a small volume of plasma. The excess plasma is saved for transfusion to those who need plasma. The concentrated red blood cells are ‘packed’ because they are in a smaller volume of blood than they were in the donor’s blood.