Assessment of blood collection, demand and supply during COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care hospital in Northern India

Abstract

Background: During the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) outbreak, blood donations were significantly decreased; hence, blood transfusion services (BTSs) faced difficulties in delivering the blood supply to the patients in need. Methods: This study aimed to assess the blood collection, supply and demand during pandemic so that it helps to find the appropriate measures to tackle similar global emergencies in the near future. All the patients whose requisition forms for blood requirements came to us from various hospitals were included in the study. Results: Blood collection has been reduced to 46.6%, demand for blood has declined to 54.5% and the blood supply has also been reduced to 67.0% during the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for blood in females was relatively higher than in male patients. Maximum demands of packed blood cells were recorded for O-positive blood group patients in 30–39 years of age with severe anaemia, followed by cancer and trauma. The demand for blood was more as compared to blood collection and supply. This gap between demand and supply showed a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BTSs. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on donor attendance and participation. Thus, adversely affects the BTSs in sustaining the equilibrium between blood demand and blood supply.

Keywords

• blood inventory management
• covid-19 pandemic
• patient blood management
• voluntary blood donor
• whole blood donation