Analysis of unused blood products and its management during peak COVID period in a rural based teritiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Blood donation is one of the most noble gestures a human can make to save life. Even after so many advances in the field of blood donation till now no alternative of human blood is easily available in all places. The aim of the study is to analyse various unused blood products their causes,during the peak covid period and its management. These are done by formulating guidelines for proper donor screening, component separation, TTI screening,and proper handling of blood products. Methods: A total of 1960 whole blood units from both voluntary and replacement donors were collected from September 2020 to August 2021 in the Department of Transfusion Medicine, Vinayaka Mission Medical college Salem.Out of which 214 units were unused(4.78%) units. Results: The study showed out of 214 units,113units(52.80%) were from platelet components, 30(14.02%) were PRBC,71(33.18%)were FFP. The primary cause of discard wasexpiry of units(45.79%), andsecond major cause was returning of units 24 (27.57%), which can be managed by following certain guidelines before issuing.