"Low platelet usage" haematology laboratories: To store or not to store?

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Hematology
• Hospital Blood Banking

Background:

• Hospitals with low annual platelet use (<500 pools) typically do not store platelets on-site.
• Platelets are usually ordered from the national blood service (NBS) on demand for transfusions.
• This ordering process can lead to logistical challenges and potentially higher costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of piloting routine on-site storage of A RhD negative platelets in a UK hospital with low annual usage.
• To assess changes in platelet orders, transfusions, wastage, emergency deliveries, and costs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective data collection on platelet units ordered from NBS, transfused, wasted, and emergency deliveries.
• Comparison of data from 2016 (pilot year) with the preceding four years (2012-2015).
• Analysis of overall cost implications associated with on-site storage versus demand ordering.

Main Results:

• A 39% reduction in platelet units ordered from the NBS in 2016 compared to previous years.
• A 50% reduction in transfused platelets during the pilot year.
• A 36% reduction in overall annual costs, attributed to reduced ordering and fewer emergency deliveries, despite a 23% increase in wastage.

Conclusions:

• Routine on-site storage of a limited number of platelet pools can be an effective strategy for hospitals with low transfusion volumes.
• This approach significantly reduces the need for external orders and emergency deliveries, leading to substantial cost savings.
• Careful inventory management is necessary to balance the benefits of on-site storage against potential increases in wastage.