An Analysis of Blood Usage and Blood Wastage in Korea Hospitals in 2008

Kwon, Jeong Ran; Lee, Sang Won; Cho, Young Hee; Kwon, Yun Hyung; Kim, Hye Jeong; Lee, Hiun Ju; Jung, Sung Hoon; Kim, Chang Hoon; Shin, Young Hack

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Investigating the blood usage and blood wastage in Korea hospitals national wide, and including all types of medical institutes, has not been sufficient with the only study having been carried out by the KCDC thorough an Academic Research Contract in 2007. Yet that study was limited due to lack of participation from hospitals. Our study tried to establish a fundamental database for blood transfusion management by investigating the current status of blood products usage, under the KCDC's supervision, to improve participation from medical institutes.
METHODS
From January to December in 2008, the Blood Bank, Red Cross of the Republic of Korea looked into the blood product supply of all the medical institutes and we conducted a national survey using questionnaires distributed via the local public health centers on the blood use, blood waste, the reasons for waste and the inventory of the remaining blood. The supply, as compared to the actual use of blood products in the same period, was analyzed by the Korean Red Cross.
RESULTS
The total amount of blood products distributed by the Korean Red Cross to medical institutes in 2008 increased by 13.8% for platelets, 11.5% for RBC products, 8.4% for apheresis products and 2% for FFPs, as compared with that of 2006. A total of 2,500 institutions participated in the questionnaire and 60.7% (1,517 out of 2,500 institutes) of the institutes sent feed-back. The total amount of blood use was 3,483,636 units and 52% of the consumption was focused in metropolitan areas like Seoul, Geong-Ki and Busan. The total wastage rate for blood was 1.2% and it was 4.8% for institutes with admitting capacities of 100 beds or less, with expiration of the storage date being the main reason for wastage, while the wastage rate was 1.1% for general hospitals with admitting capacities of 500 beds or more, with an improving patient status or death being the main reason.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study were similar to those of 2007, but the participation rate from medical institutes was much increased. Establishment of an investigational system for the use of blood products in medical institutes on a national level is needed to secure data for dealing with the increased projected demand of blood/blood products in the future.