Expansion of hospital‐based blood collections in the face of COVID‐19 associated national blood shortage

Abstract

BACKGROUND: When the coronavirus pandemic caused widespread school and business closures in March 2020, blood drives were cancelled and the supply of blood decreased suddenly in the United States (US). In response, hospital-based transfusion medicine physicians instituted policies to conserve blood and decrease blood product usage. These efforts were aided by the US Surgeon General recommendation to cancel all elective procedures. Nevertheless, the duration, severity, and impact of the pandemic on the national blood supply was uncertain. Hospitals with in-house donor programs had the opportunity not only to control demand, but also increase supply. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:A hospital-based blood donor center was rapidly mobilized to increase the supply of in-house collected blood, in order to counteract a sudden but potentially long-term depletion of the national blood supply during a pandemic. RESULTS:Collections increased approximately 5-fold above baseline for whole blood units, while apheresis platelet units were maintained at the historical average for the blood donor center.Cancellation of elective procedures showed a modest, but not yet statistically significant decrease in average blood product usage per day, nevertheless the in-house collection rate was sufficient to meet demand. CONCLUSION:A hospital-based blood donor center can quickly increase collection volumes and capacity in the face of a national emergency / pandemic. The desire to collect units should be balanced with safety concerns, need for sustainability, and blood product demand.

“Because Every Drop Counts”: Blood donation during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Gniadek et al studied the impact of the cancellation of elective surgeries and procedures on the demands for blood components [11]. They found that it only led to a modest, non-significant decline in the demand for packed RBCs, platelets, and FFP units.…”

“…They found that it only led to a modest, non-significant decline in the demand for packed RBCs, platelets, and FFP units. To tackle this crisis, the transfusion medicine department at NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Chicago ramped up the in-house donor programs which led to a 5-fold increment in the storage for whole blood units [11]. has also requested the general public to come forward for blood donation [12].…”

Take-Home Messages from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Strengths and Pitfalls of the Italian National Health Service from a Medico-Legal Point of View

“…Maintaining adequate supplies of safe blood in order to guarantee the execution of necessary surgical procedures or other medical activities can prove to be particularly difficult in emergency situations, especially epidemics. In the first few months of the pandemic, many countries [ 51 ], including Italy [ 52 ], experienced a consistent decrease in donations and, therefore, in the availability of hematic products. Although to date there is no evidence to suggest the possibility of virus transmission through blood from symptomatic individuals, the shortage is due to the greater difficulty in travel, the risks associated with congregating in donation centers, and a higher percentage of the population that is potentially infected and unable to donate.…”

Pulmonary Embolism Response Team activation during the COVID-19 pandemic in a New York City Academic Hospital: a retrospective cohort analysis

“…Reduced LOS increases bed availability and the ability to accommodate increases in patient volume. Fewer bleeding events allows for conservation of scarce blood products [18]. These positive outcomes by PERT occurred without a complete understanding of the pathophysiology of COVID-19 or evidence-based management guidelines.…”