Utilization of Blood Components for Transfusion by Hospitals in Korea: 1998-99 / 대한수혈학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Identification of blood use characteristics in medical facilities is essential for predicting blood demand and maintaining an efficient blood programme. We investigated the use of blood components and discard rate of blood in hospitals. METHOD: Blood component utilization of hospitals in 1998 and 1999 was analyzed by mail survey and co-work with eight university hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 1,510,862 blood component units in 1998 and 1,646,346 units in 1999 meaning an increase of 8.97 % percent were used by 59 hospitals investigated. Use of irradiated blood and single-donor platelets increased. Blood discard rate was less than five percent in most hospitals and many hospitals experienced improper cut in health insurance reimbursement. CONCLUSION: Use of blood components in hospitals is increasing and national guideline for transfusion is needed. A successive investigation on National wide blood utilization like this study is required for estimation of blood demand.