Lab Med. 2023 Jul 21:lmad059. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmad059. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Transfusion services aim to maintain sufficient blood inventory to support patients, even with challenges introduced by COVID-19.
OBJECTIVES: To review blood usage and wastage before, during, and after COVID-19 surges, and to evaluate effects on inventory.
METHODS: In a retrospective review, we evaluated the association between time periods corresponding to the initial wave of COVID-19 (pre-COVID-19, quarantine, and postquarantine) and blood usage/wastage. Data were stratified by period, and χ2 testing was used to examine the association between these time periods and blood usage/wastage.
RESULTS: In the period before COVID-19, the transfusion service used more units, and in the period after quarantine, more units went to waste. Across all time periods, the most-used product was RBCs, and the most wasted product was plasma. A statistically significant association existed between usage (χ2 [6/3209 (0.2%)]) = 24.534; P ≤.001; Cramer V = 0.62), wastage (χ2 [6/775 (0.8%)]) = 21.673; P = .001; Cramer V = 0.118), and time period. The postquarantine period displayed the highest wastage costs ($51,032.35), compared with the pre-COVID-19 period ($29,734.45).
CONCLUSION: Changes in blood inventory use and waste are significantly associated with the onset and continuation of COVID-19.
PMID:37478411 | DOI:10.1093/labmed/lmad059
