Pattern of blood procurement and utilization in a university hospital in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Blood is a scarce commodity and every effort needs to be made to use it judiciously and avoid wastage. This study reviewed the pattern of blood procurement, ordering, and utilization at a hospital-based blood bank. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study in which data on blood procurement methods, pattern of requisition of blood, and outcome of issued blood were obtained from blood bank registers over a 2-year period at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital blood bank. Results: Approximately, 99% of donors were family replacement donors. In 2014, total blood donated was 4003 which exceeded the request for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion by 921 units. The highest request for blood was from the accident and emergency and 90% of blood issued were used. Overall percentage wasted of RBCs was 19.8% and the major contributors to these were antenatal clinic and labor ward both having 80% and 55.8% issued blood returned to blood bank unused. Conclusion: The proportion of wasted units of RBC is high. Designing and adhering to maximum blood ordering schedule and blood transfusion guidelines with efforts toward converting family replacement donors to voluntary blood donors will help in maintaining a steady supply of safe blood.