The Use of Packed Red Blood Cells

Abstract

To the Editor.— I think that Dr Grindon's commentary (235:389, 1976), in which he expressed reservations about the emphasis on the use of packed red blood cells (PRBC), is timely and pertinent. Being in general agreement with his remarks, I would like only to add that some consideration must be given to the increased cost of the transfusion of PRBC, especially when used with plasma substitutes to replace surgical blood volume loss. At a recent blood bank seminar, a New York City-based blood bank technologist told me that his hospital was spending $250,000 annually on plasma substitutes, because he could obtain only PRBC from his regional source (and the blood bank was being criticized for this expenditure). Theirs is a cost consideration of magnitude, but even in smaller hospitals, the added technologist time, materials, equipment, and use of plasma substitutes significantly raise the already high price for transfusion. Also, the plasma