Pilot study of centralized management system in Shanghai: A promising solution to platelet collection and supply imbalance in small blood banks

Abstract

Background and Objectives: While there exists a significant wastage of platelets on one side (volatile demands and short lifetime), there is also a shortage for use on the other (lack of donors and emergency transfusions). A new centralized management system was established to tackle this dilemma. Methods: To assess the function of this system, data were collected from the Fengxian Blood Bank (FBB) Collection and Supply Information System during 2016 and 2018, then analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. Results: Since implementing the centralized management system, a total of 1340 units of apheresis platelets were distributed by FBB. However, the number of units collected was 2737, twice as much as what had been distributed. With the aid of the system, the excess of 1644 units of apheresis platelets were transferred to the Shanghai Blood Center (SBC) inventory at their disposal. On the other hand, 247 units (included in 1340 distributed units) were compensated by SBC during the platelet shortage. In addition, the hospital demand meeting rate shows a significant increase from 82.61% to 99.78%, especially for type AB which increases from 62% to 100%. Conclusions: In conclusion, the centralized management system vastly improved the efficiency of platelet collection and distribution by the regional supply and demand. Such success would be a superb example of blood banks facing similar problems.

Keywords

• a centralized management system
• apheresis platelets management
• wastage and shortage