A blood ordering strategy for hospital blood banks derived from a computer simulation

The ultimate goal of a hospital blood bank inventory control programs is to reduce wastage of blood products and unnecessary use of laboratory services without jeopardizing patient safety. The development of a practical blood ordering policy at the hospital level is an integral part of any such program. In order to explore various blood ordering options in detail, a computer simulation of a hospital blood inventory was used to assess the impact on blood band performance measures of reductions in group O and non-group-O levels from baseline levels, assuming both a 21-day and 35-day shelf life. On the basis of data derived from this study showing that such inventory reductions accompanied by partial protection of the group O inventory will not result in significant shortages, a practical strategy was developed for establishing optimal target inventory levels for a hospital on an empirical basis. These target levels can serve as a guide for subsequent blood ordering. A step-by-step approach for analyzing a hospital blood inventory control program is then suggested, accompanied by an action plan for implementing change which incorporates the experimentally-derived blood ordering strategy. Adherence to this plan should result in a low outdate rate, a reduction in unnecessary cross-matching, and greater availability of blood for those patients with a legitimate need for it.