ASCP Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) Practice Exam 2025 - Free Blood Banking Specialist Practice Questions and Study Guide

Factor VII is known to have a short in vivo half-life, approximately six hours. This characteristic is significant in the context of preparing a patient for surgery, especially when there is a risk of bleeding. When the levels of Factor VII are insufficient, it can lead to coagulopathy, making it necessary to administer Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP), which contains clotting factors, prior to surgical procedures to ensure proper hemostasis.

FFP is typically used to replenish not only Factor VII but also other coagulation factors that may be deficient or diminished, thus helping stabilize the patient’s coagulation status ahead of surgery. The other factors listed have different half-lives or functions, making them less critical for pre-surgical FFP transfusion compared to Factor VII.