Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026
A Precision Medicine Tool for Measurement and Monitoring of Hemoglobin S in Sickle Cell Disease Patients Receiving Transfusion Therapy
Continued decline in blood collection and transfusion in the United States-2015
Katherine D Ellingson1,2, Mathew R P Sapiano1,3, Kathryn A Haass1
1Office of Blood, Organ, and Other Tissue Safety, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Insights
Blood collection and transfusion in the U.S. continued to decline in 2015, according to the National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS). This trend highlights the need for ongoing monitoring of blood services to ensure adequate inventory.
Area of Science:
- Blood Services
- Transfusion Medicine
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- Previous National Blood Collection and Utilization Surveys (NBCUS) in 2011 and 2013 indicated decreasing trends in blood collection and transfusion rates within the United States.
- Understanding the current state of blood services is crucial for public health preparedness and resource management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively describe the status of blood collection, distribution, transfusion, and pricing in the United States for the year 2015.
- To identify trends in blood product utilization and inventory management.
Main Methods:
- The 2015 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) was administered to a comprehensive sample of U.S. blood collection centers and hospitals.
- Data collection included units of blood and components collected, deferred, distributed, transfused, and outdated, with weighting and imputation used for national estimates.
Main Results:
- In 2015, 12,591,000 units of red blood cells (RBCs) were collected and 11,349,000 were transfused, marking significant declines from 2013 levels.
- Total platelet and plasma units distributed and transfused also showed decreases compared to 2013.
- Median prices for leukocyte-reduced RBCs, apheresis platelets, and fresh frozen plasma were lower in 2015 than in 2013.
Conclusions:
- The findings indicate a continued reduction in demand for blood products, leading to decreased collection and distribution.
- Sustaining an adequate blood supply for both routine and emergency needs necessitates continuous monitoring and a deeper understanding of these evolving trends.
- The study underscores the dynamic nature of blood services and the importance of adaptive strategies.
Background:
In 2011 and 2013, the National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) revealed declines in blood collection and transfusion in the United States. The objective of this study was to describe blood services in 2015.
Study Design And Methods:
The 2015 NBCUS was distributed to all US blood collection centers, all hospitals performing at least 1000 surgeries annually, and a 40% random sample of hospitals performing 100 to 999 surgeries annually. Weighting and imputation were used to generate national estimates for units of blood and components collected, deferred, distributed, transfused, and outdated.
Results:
Response rates for the 2015 NBCUS were 78.4% for blood collection centers and 73.9% for transfusing hospitals. In 2015, 12,591,000 units of red blood cells (RBCs) (95% confidence interval [CI], 11,985,000-13,197,000 units of RBCs) were collected, and 11,349,000 (95% CI, 10,592,000-11,747,000) were transfused, representing declines since 2013 of 11.6% and 13.9%, respectively. Total platelet units distributed (2,436,000; 95% CI, 2,230,000-2,642,000) and transfused (1,983,000; 95% CI, 1,816,000 = 2,151,000) declined by 0.5% and 13.1%, respectively, since 2013. Plasma distributions (3,714,000; 95% CI, 3,306,000-4,121,000) and transfusions (2,727,000; 95% CI, 2,594,000-2,859,000) in 2015 declined since 2013. The median price paid per unit in 2015-$211 for leukocyte-reduced RBCs, $524 for apheresis platelets, and $54 for fresh frozen plasma-was less for all components than in 2013.
Conclusions:
The 2015 NBCUS findings suggest that continued declines in demand for blood products resulted in fewer units collected and distributed Maintaining a blood inventory sufficient to meet routine and emergent demands will require further monitoring and understanding of these trends.
Related Concept Videos
02:45Blood Transfusion and Agglutination
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...
01:15Blood Transfusion
Blood Transfusion Overview
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or to treat conditions such as anemia or cancer. During a transfusion, donor blood is...
01:22Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy...
01:01Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
01:19Rh Blood Group