Technology involved in whole blood inventory control

Abstract

This article describes the design and implementation of the first whole blood inventory control system of its kind in the United States. In 1964, responding to an expressed need by a medium-sized blood bank, a data collection, conversion, transmission, and processing system was developed and successfully implemented in a California two-county area. The system since has been expanded to cover a population of 10 million in five states. The system, on a daily basis, was to provide blood bank management with data and analyses to facilitate best allocation of the available processed blood supplies and to forecast needs. System development required work in data collection, conversion, transmission, and computer data processing. Meaningful reports were the result. For economical development of usable data, each area had to operate with stringent reliability and cost limitations. Development time spans and reliability requirements indicated the use of off-the-shelf equipment. Performance data collected over a four-year period showed conclusively that effective controls could be placed on indiscriminate stocking policies and resultant loss of blood through outdating.