Using New Quality Indicators in Five Transfusion Centers in a One-Year Period: An Experience

This study aims to select 9 of the quality indicators recommended by International Society for Blood Transfusion in five different transfusion centers and analyze the results.

Nine new indicators were retrospectively examined monthly in 2024 in 5 centers, including 2 educational and research centers, 1 city, 1 university, and 1 private hospital.

The rate of meeting blood requests varies between institutions and is in the wide range of 30.9%-99.0%. Expired erythrocyte suspension rates are similar and roughly <1% both among institutions and in the monthly analysis of the institutions themselves, while expired platelet suspension rates vary and are in the wide range of 0.7%-33.3%. Monthly analysis of institutions' disposal rates is lower and acceptable, but their expired platelet suspension rates are much higher. The rates of returned blood components and damaged blood components were roughly similar across all 5 institutions and were mostly <1%. To evaluate the errors in the preanalytical process of transfusion centers, the rate of improper pre-transfusion test requests was evaluated, it varied between institutions and was found to be <5%. The rate of erythrocyte suspension given without testing in an emergency was found to be <2%. Serious adverse reactions occurred only in Tekirdağ City Hospital during the 1-year period and the rate was found to be 0.08%.

It was concluded that the indicators of transfusion centers in our country should be updated, and their number should be increased to cover the entire process.