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Updated: Oct 26, 2025
Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting
Published on: November 30, 2015
Supplemental findings of the 2019 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey
Sanjida J Mowla1,2, Mathew R P Sapiano1, Jefferson M Jones1
1Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Insights
Blood donations declined from 2017-2019, with fewer young donors but more older donors. Blood product prices decreased, while transfusion safety measures like pathogen reduction technology slowly expanded.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Public Health
- Transfusion Medicine
Background:
- The National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) provides critical data on blood collection and transfusion practices.
- Understanding trends in donor demographics, donation types, and transfusion safety is vital for maintaining an adequate and safe blood supply.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present supplemental data from the 2019 NBCUS.
- To analyze trends in donor characteristics, blood collection, utilization, costs, and safety measures between 2017 and 2019.
Main Methods:
- National estimates were generated using weighting and imputation methods.
- Data included donor demographics, donation types (autologous, directed), component collections and transfusions (platelets, plasma), adverse events, and safety practices.
Main Results:
- Successful blood donations slightly decreased by 1.1% between 2017 and 2019.
- Donations from younger donors (16-18 years) declined 10.1%, while donations from older donors (>65 years) increased 10.5%.
- Median prices for blood components decreased, and life-threatening transfusion-related adverse reactions continued to decline. Most units were leukoreduced.
Conclusions:
- Blood donations decreased, with a notable shift towards older donors.
- Hospital costs for blood products declined, and transfusion safety improved.
- Pathogen reduction technology (PRT) implementation is gradually increasing in blood centers and hospitals.
Introduction:
Supplemental data from the 2019 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) are presented and include findings on donor characteristics, autologous and directed donations and transfusions, platelets (PLTs), plasma and granulocyte transfusions, pediatric transfusions, transfusion-associated adverse events, cost of blood units, hospital policies and practices, and implementation of blood safety measures, including pathogen reduction technology (PRT).
Methods:
National estimates were produced using weighting and imputation methods for a number of donors, donations, donor deferrals, autologous and directed donations and transfusions, PLT and plasma collections and transfusions, a number of crossmatch procedures, a number of units irradiated and leukoreduced, pediatric transfusions, and transfusion-associated adverse events.
Results:
Between 2017 and 2019, there was a slight decrease in successful donations by 1.1%. Donations by persons aged 16-18 decreased by 10.1% while donations among donors >65 years increased by 10.5%. From 2017 to 2019, the median price paid for blood components by hospitals for leukoreduced red blood cell units, leukoreduced apheresis PLT units, and for fresh frozen plasma units continued to decrease. The rate of life-threatening transfusion-related adverse reactions continued to decrease. Most whole blood/red blood cell units (97%) and PLT units (97%) were leukoreduced.
Conclusion:
Blood donations decreased between 2017 and 2019. Donations from younger donors continued to decline while donations among older donors have steadily increased. Prices paid for blood products by hospitals decreased. Implementation of PRT among blood centers and hospitals is slowly expanding.
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