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Impact of Shelf-Life Extension on Platelet Availability: Results from an Inventory Management Modeling Study.

Veronika Brixner¹, Marcia Cardoso², Erik Spaepen³

¹German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy : Offizielles Organ Der Deutschen Gesellschaft Fur Transfusionsmedizin Und Immunhamatologie

|December 12, 2024

Summary

Extending platelet concentrate (PC) shelf-life in Germany could significantly reduce shortages. A 6- or 7-day shelf-life, combined with optimized production, can nearly eliminate PC unavailability, even for rare blood types.

Keywords:

German Red Cross Inventory management simulation Platelets Shelf-life extension Shortage

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Published on: November 29, 2024

Area of Science:

Transfusion Medicine
Hematology
Health Services Research

Background:

Platelet concentrate (PC) demand in Germany is rising, while whole blood donations have decreased.
The current 4-day shelf-life of PCs, extendable to 5 days, contributes to reduced PC availability.
Short PC shelf-life poses a challenge for maintaining adequate blood supply.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the impact of extending platelet concentrate (PC) shelf-life on PC shortage.
To inform blood services and regulatory bodies about the benefits of longer PC shelf-life.

Main Methods:

A mathematical simulation model was developed using PC production and delivery data from the German Red Cross Transfusion Service.
A 2.2-year dataset was utilized for a Monte Carlo inventory management simulation to assess PC shortage.
The model analyzed daily stock, PC age at release, expired units, and shortage rates.

Main Results:

Increasing PC shelf-life and/or overproduction rates effectively reduces shortage rates.
Extending shelf-life to 6 or 7 days, with a 20% overproduction rate, could reduce shortages from 2.8% to as low as 0.2%.
Shelf-life extension to 6 or 7 days virtually eliminates shortages, including for rare blood types.

Conclusions:

Extending platelet concentrate (PC) shelf-life to 6 or 7 days is a viable strategy to significantly improve PC availability.
These findings support policy changes for blood services and regulatory authorities regarding PC shelf-life.
Optimizing PC production alongside shelf-life extension offers a robust solution to transfusion shortages.