Blood products - albumin (Newborn Services)
There are two types of Albumin used in NICU - Alburex®5 NZ and Alburex®20 NZ.
There are two types of Albumin used in NICU 5% and 20% - Alburex®5 and Alburex®20 (Albumex TM20 is being phased out).
Both forms of Albumin require informed consent with parents signing an Ageement to Treatment form (CR0111)
Both are prescribed on the blood transfusion/IV fluid chart (CR5541)
Both are ordered via the NZBS requisition form (111F01802)
Both products are prefiltered so do not require filtering prior to administration
For information on checking, administration, monitoring, documentation and transfusion reactions, see Blood products - red cell transfusion.
Alburex®5 NZ
Available in one size - 500ml (25g/500ml)
5% albumin is free of risk of transmission of known viral diseases (heat inactivated).
Dose = 10-20mls/kg
Once opened use immediately as the product contains no antimicrobial agent.
Should be straw colour. Should not be cloudy.
Alburex®5 NZ contains approximately 3.2 mg sodium per mL of solution (140 mmol/L). This should be noted when the product is used in patients requiring sodium restriction.
Albumex TM20 and Alburex®20 NZ
20% albumin is free of the risk of infectious disease as it is heat inactivated. It is made from large pools of New Zealand donor plasma. It is used for babies with low protein and oedema.
Albumex TM20 will continue to be available in 10mL size until October 2025 then will change to Alburex®20.
Alburex®20 comes in one size - 100ml(20g/100ml)
It should be administered through a standard IV giving set (no filter is required)
Albumex TM20 and Alburex®20 can be utilised 2 ways:
a) As a volume expander diluted 1 part to 4 parts of 0.9% sodium chloride.
b) To draw fluid out of the tissues - use full strength
20 % albumin draws 4 volumes of fluid from the extra cellular fluid into the circulation.
Thus, 20ml of Albumex TM20/Alburex®20 results in approximately 80ml increase in the circulating volume.
This can cause volume overload, particularly in the presence of renal failure.
It should be given undiluted over 1 hour (approximately). 2gm in 10ml is equal to 40ml Alburex®5.
Dose for hypoprotinaemia 0.5 - 1g/kg/dose (2.5 - 5ml/kg/dose)
Alburex® 20 NZ contains approximately 3.2 mg sodium per mL of solution (140 mmol/L).
Once the bottle is opened it must be used straight away.
Reference
Medsafe New Zealand Data Sheet