(d) Conducts blood collection operations to provide platelets and packed
RBCs on an emergency basis.
(e) Operates BPDs when required by the OPLAN.
(f) Has a capacity of 3600 units of liquid RBCs.
e. Blood Product Depots (BPD). BPDs have been established in certain unified
commands to provide storage for frozen RBCs and FFP. The unified commands will
designate Service components to establish and operate BPD. The determination of the
numbers and locations will be in coordination with the unified command JBPO, the Joint
Staff, and the ASBPO. The blood products stored in the BPD are theater assets, under
the control of the JBPO or the respective AJBPO. Because of the extremely limited
mobility of the equipment involved and the difficulty in maintaining the low storage
temperatures of the frozen products, BPDs operate as prepositioned, fixed facilities.
(1) The functions of the BPDs are to:
(a) Offset strategic shortages of blood products during the initial stages of
an operation until the liquid RBC units can be shipped into the theater.
(b) Store frozen blood products for resupply of ships offshore.
(c) Prepare frozen blood products for distribution, either as frozen units
(FFP or RBCs) or as deglycerolized RBC units.
(d) Issue blood and blood products to BSUs, as required.
(e) Serve collaterally as BSUs to store and arrange for the distribution of
blood and blood products to MTFs.
(f) Provide daily BLDREPs (when operational) to their respective AJBPOs
or JBPO.
(2) Component commands of the unified commands are responsible for
ensuring that BPDs are maintained, funded, equipped, and supplied during peacetime
operation.
(3) Each respective Service will identify, staff, and fund sufficient personnel to
operate each BPD.
(4) Each Service will conduct annual training for personnel in deglycerolization
and contingency operation of the BPD to ensure familiarity with administrative and
operational procedures.
(5) Capacity: Varies on size of building and how equipped.
MD0868
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