Evaluating the inventory impact of utilizing low titer platelets in regional hospitals

As a result of constrained supply, it is sometimes necessary to provide patients with ABO-mismatched platelets. Such practices increase the risk of acute hemolytic transfusion reaction (AHTR). Providing patients with platelets suspended in O plasma having low-titer Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies (LtABO) could reduce the incidence of AHTR. However, natural scarcity limits the number of such units that can be produced. In this paper we present a study to evaluate strategies for deploying LtABO at regional hospitals in Canada.

Regional hospitals often experience demand for platelets on an irregular basis. They are, however, required to stock some number of platelets (typically one A-unit and one O-unit) for emergencies; outdates are common, with discard rates sometimes >>50%. A simulation study was completed to determine the impact of replacing a (1A, 1O) inventory with 2 or 3 units of LtABO at regional hospitals.

A significant decreases in wastage and shortage can be expected by replacing a (1A, 1O) inventory policy with 2 units of LtABO. In tested cases, a 2-unit LtABO dominated a (1A, 1O) policy, resulting in statistically fewer outdates and instances of shortage. Holding 3 units of LtABO, increases product availability, but results in an increase in outdates when compared to a (1A, 1O) policy.

Providing LtABO platelets to smaller, regional hospitals will lower wastage rates and improve patient access to care, when compared to existing (1A, 1O) inventory policies.