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Statistical effects of varying blood life span from 14 to 28 days
Human blood can be stored in the liquid state for only 21 days. Although the 21-day limit appears to have been somewhat arbitrarily set, there is general agreement that quality of blood, especially the red blood cells' oxygen carrying ability and viability declines with age. Lengthening the shelf life could help in reducing outdating and shortages. Shortening the shelf life, on the other hand, would make it even more difficult to supply blood needs. This paper studies the effect of varying the blood's life span from 14 to 28 days using a simulation model and collections and utilization data from an actual blood region.
Human blood can be stored in the liquid state for only 21 days. Although the 21-day limit appears to have been somewhat arbitrarily set, there is general agreement that quality of blood, especially the red blood cells' oxygen carrying ability and viability declines with age. Lengthening the shelf life could help in reducing outdating and shortages. Shortening the shelf life, on the other hand, would make it even more difficult to supply blood needs. This paper studies the effect of varying the blood's life span from 14 to 28 days using a simulation model and collections and utilization data from an actual blood region.