Optimization of the management of platelet concentrate stocks in the Basque Country using mathematical simulation

The management of platelet concentrate (PC) stocks is not simple given their short shelf life and variable demand. In general, managers decide on PC production based on personal experience. The objective of this study was to provide a tool to help decide how many PC units to produce each day in a more rational and objective way.

From the historical data on PCs produced, transfused and discarded in the Basque Country in 2012, a mathematical model was built, based on the normality of the time series of the transfusions performed on each day of the week throughout the year. This model was implemented in an easy-to-use Excel spreadsheet and validated using real production data from 2013.

Comparing with real 2013 data, in the best scenario, the number of PC units that expired was 87·7% lower, PC production, 14·3% lower and the age of the PCs transfused nearly 1-day younger in the simulation. If we want to ensure a minimum stock at the end of each day, the outdating rate and average age of the transfused PCs progressively increase.

The practical application of the designed tool can facilitate decision-making about how many PC units to produce each day, resulting in very significant reductions in PC production and wastage and corresponding cost savings, together with an almost 1 day decrease in the mean age of PCs transfused.