An Analysis of the Unused Blood Components Return at the Teaching Hospital in North Eastern Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: All blood components should be returned to the blood bank immediately if a decision of not to transfuse is made for reissuance or proper disposal. Improper handling of returned blood components lead to blood components wastage and may jeopardized the next recepients safety.
 Aim and objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the frequency and reasons of unused blood components return and its quality indicator for the useful information of blood inventory plan in our centre.
 Methods: This was a cross sectional study done from August 2020 to February 2021 at Transfusion Medicine Unit, Hospital USM. Each of blood components return was examined for the type and number of units, return reasons and the quality indicator (duration of stay outside the blood bank, temperature and physical appearance changes).
 Results: The totals of 620 (3.1%) units of blood components were returned from 20120 units supplied and 80.8% units of them did not fit for reissuance resulted in 2.5% wastage from the total blood products. The highest rate of returned blood component was packed red cell (4.6%). The reasons of return mostly were inappropriate where majority due to ‘standby’ purpose (47.4%) followed by patient death (15.6%), adequate hemoglobin level (7.6%) and a few other unacceptable reasons.
 Conclusion: Although the number of returned blood component is small but it can affect the blood supply. The proper system for assurance of returned acceptable blood components for reissuance must be applied and continuously monitored for transfusion safety and minimize wastage of this precious resource.