What blood product can be stored for up to 26 days and has never been frozen?

The correct answer is that liquid plasma can be stored for up to 26 days and has never been frozen. Liquid plasma is a component of blood that remains in its liquid state and is typically collected from whole blood donations. Unlike fresh frozen plasma, which must be frozen within a specific time frame to preserve clotting factors, liquid plasma is refrigerated and has a shelf life of several weeks.

This characteristic of liquid plasma makes it particularly valuable in transfusion medicine, as it can be readily available for patients requiring volume replacement or specific component therapy. Blood products like platelets have a shorter shelf life and usually require more specific handling than liquid plasma. Similarly, fresh frozen plasma and freeze-dried plasma involve processes that change their storage conditions and impact their availability and efficacy. Therefore, the stability and storage duration of liquid plasma underscore its importance in emergency and tactical medical scenarios.