RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Blood supply in Korea has been unstable in more than a year because transfusion-related infection was repeated in patients receiving blood that the Korean Red Cross Blood Center (KRCBC) had supplied. The purpose of this study is to contribute to stable and efficient blood supply in our country by analysis of present status of hospital blood banks as blood donation center and their satisfaction levels with the KRCBC. METHODS: From July to August 2004, we performed questionnaire survey in 129 hospital blood banks that the KRCBC issued donor card in 2003. Among them, 73 hospitals replied and we analyzed them. RESULTS: Fifty-one (69.8%) among 73 hospital blood banks collected less than 100 cases of blood donation in 2003 and 16 of them collected no blood component. Satisfaction level with KRCBC was only 1.8 in hospitals less than 300 beds. Improvement in the delivery of blood components and blood testing of donated blood were in highest need among all areas of services supplied by KRCBC. Hospitals more than 1,000 beds answered that they would not transfer the collection service to KRCBC no matter how NAT be performed in all donated blood because of the directed and autologous donation of their hospitals. CONCLUSION: Satisfaction level of Hospital blood banks in Korea with blood services of KRCBC was rated below average, especially in hospitals less than 300 beds. It is important that the government should be the subject of national blood services and suggest appropriate schemes such as national audit program through close cooperation with the KRCBC and hospitals.