Informatics applications in blood banking

The dynamic nature of blood banking presents significant challenges in information acquisition, processing, and management. Blood banks have turned increasingly to computer technology for assistance with information handling. Novel applications of computer-based technology in blood banking and transfusion medicine have been developed and reported in the medical literature. This article reviews computer-based donor interviewing, expert system determination of donor eligibility based on viral marker testing results, inventory management through computer simulation analysis, prospective screening of blood orders by experts systems, and computer-based blood compatibility assessment.