Mobile Blood Collection Research Articles

Molecular Screening of Blood Donors for Babesia in Tyrol, Austria

Introduction: Babesia is a tick-borne intraerythrocytic parasite that is globally ubiquitous, yet understudied. Several species of Babesia have been shown to be transfusion-transmissible. Babesia has been reported in blood donors, animals, and ticks in the Tyrol (Western Austria), and regional cases of human babesiosis have been described. We sought to characterize the risk of Babesia to the local blood supply. Methods: Prospective molecular testing was performed on blood donors who presented to regional, mobile blood collection drives in the Tyrol, Austria (27 May to October 4, 2021). Testing was conducted using the cobas^® Babesia assay (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.), a commercial PCR assay approved for blood donor screening that is capable of detecting the 4 primary species causing human babesiosis (i.e., B. microti, B. divergens, B. duncani, and B. venatorum). A confirmatory algorithm to manage initial PCR-reactive samples was developed, as were procedures for donor and product management. Results: A total of 7,972 donors were enrolled and screened; 4,311 (54.1%) were male, with a median age of 47 years (IQR = 34–55). No positive cases of Babesia were detected, corresponding with an overall prevalence of 0.00% (95% CI: 0.00%, 0.05%). Discussion: The findings suggest that the prevalence of Babesia is low in Austrian blood donors residing in the Tyrol, even during months of peak tick exposure. Although one cannot conclude the absence of Babesia in this population given the limited sample size, the findings suggest that the regional risk of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis is low.

The impact of blood campaigns using mobile blood collection drives on blood supply management during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background and objectivesBlood transfusion is a lifesaving procedure for transfusion-dependent patients. Therefore, maintaining blood supply is extremely crucial. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively affected blood supply by affecting donor attendance. This study aimed to investigate blood supply and demand during the pandemic and demonstrate the positive impact of blood donation campaigns through mobile blood drives. Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted based on data of the blood bank at Prince Muhammad bin Nasser Hospital (PMBNH) in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Data on the attendance of blood donors at PMBNH were retrieved and retrospectively reviewed to assess the impact of mobile blood drives during the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsBlood supply and donor attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic dropped by 17.32 %. However, blood supply increased between March and May 2020 due to national blood donation campaigns conducted through mobile blood drives. The drop in blood supply after 3 months of mobile blood drives significantly decreased to 0.17 % (P < 0.01). This means the blood supply was increased as follows; (March 2020 = 32.67 %, April 2020 = 45.54 %, and May 2020 = 19.47 %). On the other hand, blood demand decreased by 12.83 %. ConclusionThis study demonstrated the significant impact of establishing blood donation campaigns through mobile blood drives. Our results showed that the strategy can contribute to sufficient blood units to patients during pandemics and emergencies.

Towards an ontology-based approach to enhance the mobile blood collection process

The choice of the best location to install the mobile blood collection center is one of the most significant challenges of the blood supply chain. To date, there is a strong need to mobilize potential donors and maximize the amount of collected blood in order to meet the demand. However, the traditional mobile blood collection process is non-digitalized, and there is a huge amount of information that should be considered to enhance the decision-making process. Understanding data more effectively is a key factor to provide insight in order to support decision makers in choosing the most appropriate site to install the mobile truck in order to target as many donors as possible. Accordingly, an ontology-based cyber-physical social system (CPSS) is essential to improve the mobile blood collection process and digitalize it. In this paper, we present Mobile Blood Collection Ontology (MBCO), a modular suite of ontologies that formalize the mobile blood collection process. To do so, we use Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) as a top-level ontology that facilitates the integration of the different ontological modules and also some existing domain ontologies. The proposed ontology will be exploited later by a data-driven decision support system to find out the best location for the mobile center.

Mobile blood collection during COVID-19

COVID-19 is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus that infects human and certain animals. That enters its host cell by binding to the angiotensin covering enzyme 2 receptor. Highly contagious with the possibility of causing severe respiratory disease. Purpose of the study was to discuss the requirement and importance of the challenge of blood collection, during corona outbreak. A well-equipped mobile blood bank van with all staff of blood bank conducted a blood donation camp in and around Vijayapur district by maintaining the social distancing. The pre-camp awareness program was conducted to all the donors and made them mentally fit by giving them awareness, and removing fear, anxiety, about coronavirus. Total three camps were conducted and collected ninety whole blood bags. Blood collection is necessary during COVID -19 emergency to the patients of pregnant women, accident cases, Surgery, Thalassemia, Hemophilia and severely anaemic patients.

Maintenance and repair of instruments and equipment of mobile blood collection vehicle

流动采血车；仪器设备；质量管理；血液质量

PB2453 DISTRIBUTION OF BLOOD DONOR IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUP IN KATHMANDU NEPAL

Background:Voluntary non‐remunerated blood donor consists of 78% blood donor's population in Nepal. Therefore demographic about the distribution of blood donors according to the age group is important to achieve 100% Voluntary non‐remunerated blood donors in Nepal.Aims:To explore the demographic distribution of the blood donor in different age group in the Kathmandu Nepal.Methods:This is retrospective study conducted at Nepal Red Cross Society Central Blood Transfusion Service. Data from January 2013 to January 2017 were collected from donor management software. The data includes socio demographic data. Data has been process with SPSS version ‐17Results:During 4 years study period, total of 276,290 Blood donation happened from both mobile blood collection and in‐house blood collection.Out of 276,290 Collection, 48351 (17.5%) are from 18‐24 age group; 106924 (38.7%) are from 25‐31 age group 53324 (19.3%) are from 32‐38 age group; 34536 (12.5%) are from group 39‐45 age group; 23761 (8.6%) are from age group 46‐52 and 9394 (3.4%) from age group above 53 respectively.Summary/Conclusion:The distribution of ABO blood group varies regionally and from one population to another. In Kathmandu, Nepal 18‐38 years age group is the most common age group encountered donating blood. The data generated in the present study and several other studies of different geographical region of India will be useful to health planners and future health challenges in the region

Options for possible changes to the blood donation service: health economics modelling

BackgroundEvidence is required on the cost-effectiveness of alternative changes to the blood collection service.Objectives(1) To estimate the cost-effectiveness of alternative minimum interdonation intervals between whole-blood donations. (2) To investigate donors’ frequency of whole-blood donation according to alternative changes to the blood collection service. (3) To estimate the cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies for maintaining the supply of whole blood.MethodsWe undertook a within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of the INTERVAL trial, stated preference (SP) surveys to elicit donor preferences and a CEA of different strategies for blood collection. The strategies considered were reduced minimum intervals between whole-blood donations, introduction of a donor health report and changes to appointment availability and opening times at blood collection venues. The within-trial CEA included 44,863 donors, with men randomly assigned to 12- versus 10- versus 8-week interdonation intervals, and women to 16- versus 14- versus 12-week interdonation intervals. We undertook a SP survey of non-INTERVAL donors (100,000 invitees). We asked donors to state the frequency with which they would be willing to donate blood, according to the service attribute and level. The CEA compared changes to the blood service with current practice by combining the survey estimates with information from the NHS Blood and Transpant database (PULSE) and cost data. The target population was existing whole-blood donors in England, of whom approximately 85% currently donate whole blood at mobile (temporary) blood collection venues, with the remainder donating at static (permanent) blood collection centres. We reported the effects of the alternative strategies on the number of whole-blood donations, costs and cost-effectiveness.ResultsThe reduced donation interval strategies had higher deferral rates caused by low haemoglobin (Hb), but increased frequency of successful donation. For men in the 8- versus 12-week arm of the INTERVAL trial [Di Angelantonio E, Thompson SG, Kaptoge S, Moore C, Walker M, Armitage J,et al.Efficiency and safety of varying the frequency of whole blood donation (INTERVAL): a randomised trial of 45 000 donors.Lancet2017;390:2360–71], the Hb-related deferral rate was 5.7% per session versus 2.6% per session, but the average number of donations over 2 years increased by 1.71 (95% confidence interval 1.60 to 1.80). A total of 25,187 (25%) donors responded to the SP survey. For static donor centres, extending appointment availability to weekday evenings or weekends, or reduced intervals between blood donations, increased stated donation frequency by, on average, 0.5 donations per year. The CEA found that reducing the minimum interval, extending opening times to weekday evenings and extending opening times to weekends in all static donor centres would provide additional whole blood at a cost per additional unit of £10, £23 and £29, respectively, with similar results for donors with high-demand blood types.LimitationsThe study did not consider the long-term rates at which donors will leave the donation register, for example following higher rates of Hb-related deferral.ConclusionsExtending opening hours for blood donation to weekday evenings or weekends for all static donor centres are cost-effective ways of increasing the supply of high-demand blood types.Future workTo monitor the effects of new strategies on long-term donation frequency.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

A two-stage multi-echelon stochastic blood supply chain problem

This paper presents a two-stage stochastic programming problem for red blood cells that simultaneously considers production, inventory and location decisions. In the first stage, the problem determines the number of mobile blood collection facilities to deploy, while the second stage determines inventory and production decisions. The problem aims to minimize three objective functions: the number of outdated units, system costs, and blood delivery time. Using the epsilon-constraint method, the tri-objective problem is converted to a single-objective mixed integer programming (MIP) problem which is solved using CPLEX for a real case study from The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Finally, managerial insights are drawn from computational experiments.

Mobile blood collection sites and their roles in providing safe and adequate supply: A six-year experience

The determination of the role of mobile sites, as compared with fixed sites, in providing safe blood supply will help with the planning of future programs. This retrospective study was carried out at the Khuzestan Blood Transfusion Organization from 2007 to 2012. Samples of the blood collected at mobile sites and fixed sites were compared. Comparisons took into consideration noticeable trends as well as the prevalence of major TTIs including HIV, HBV and HCV. The total number of blood donations from 2007 to 2012 was 621117 out of which 89590 (14.43%) were collected from mobile sites. The overall blood donation index was estimated at 23.8 per 1000 population. The prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV in mobile site donations was 5.31, 320.34 and 117.4, and in fixed sites was 5.31, 214.72 and 104.83 per 100000 donations respectively. HBV prevalence in mobile sites was significantly higher than in fixed sites (p = 0.014). The blood donation index in Khuzestan province is much better when compared with areas of similar socioeconomic status as well as neighboring countries. The allotment of blood units collected by mobile teams is lower than that of national reports. In addition, the prevalence of TTIs in mobile site blood donations was higher than at fixed sites.

The impact of the context and recruitment materials on nondonors' willingness to donate blood.

Anxiety is a frequently cited barrier to blood donor recruitment. Although the mere presence of donation paraphernalia can heighten anxiety for some individuals, such stimuli are a necessary and unavoidable part of donation. Drawing on France and colleagues' research on tailored donor education and coping materials, the current study assessed whether modifying recruitment materials could improve donor recruitment in a context where anxiety is heightened. A field study comprising a 2 (presence or absence of a mobile blood collection unit [MCU]) × 2 (recruitment brochure: standard, coping) between-subjects design was conducted with 922 nondonors who believed themselves eligible to donate blood. In either the presence or absence of the MCU, participants received a standard or modified recruitment brochure modeled on France and colleagues' education and coping materials. Donation anxiety, attitude, subjective norm, self-efficacy, and intention were assessed, and donation behavior was tracked for 30 days. Participants who were assessed in the presence of the MCU reported heightened anxiety, and female participants reported decreased self-efficacy. The coping brochure improved self-efficacy, heightened the intention to donate in the presence of the MCU, and promoted blood donation behavior relative to the standard brochure. Path analyses supported a model in which, in the presence of the MCU, the coping brochure boosted self-efficacy and led to increased donation intention and behavior. In a context in which donation-related anxiety is heightened, provision of materials that address prospective donor concerns and suggest coping strategies can bolster self-efficacy and promote recruitment.

First report of the impact on voluntary blood donation by the blood mobile from India.

Introduction:The blood mobile is one of the modern methods of mobile blood collection facility funded through the third phase of National AIDS Control Programme by the National Blood Transfusion Council of India.Material and Methods:A retrospective analysis of data in relation to the blood mobile was carried out with respect to the number of blood donation camps, number of blood units collected, adverse donor reactions, and the expenditure that occurred during the blood collection in the blood mobile from 1st January 2012 to 30th June 2014.Results:There were 64, 84 and 62 blood donation camps conducted in the blood mobile with collection of 3301, 5166 and 2842 blood units during 2012, 2013 and the first half of 2014. The percentage of voluntary blood collection in blood mobile was 8.5% in 2012, increased to 12.4% in 2013 and stands at 14.39% in the first half of 2014. The difference in the means of the adverse donor reactions in the blood mobile and the outdoor camps was not statistically significant.Discussion and Conclusion:The blood mobile is definitely an asset as far as augmentation of voluntary blood donation is concerned, ensures stable collection of blood for better provision of blood and blood components. However the facility requires a comprehensive annual maintenance with incorporation of onsite quick response team both from the manufacturer of the vehicle, and the blood collection equipments. Adequate provision of funding for operational expenditure would in turn facilitate optimum utilization of this facility.

La géomatique au service de la collecte de sang

To achieve blood supply, EFS organizes mobile blood collection sessions (80% of whole blood supply), close to target blood donors. Mobile sessions planning is usually developed in partnership with organizations of voluntary blood donors, based on the experience of previous sessions. However, population moving to urban areas and lifestyles changing force to focus on objective demographic analysis to determine a prospective vision of potentialities to ensure blood supply. MethodFor blood supply management, EFS recently implemented innovative methods of mapping, through Geographic Information System software (GIS) that allow a spatial representation of different indicators. Geomatics engineering gathers and processes spatially referenced information about blood collections and blood donors, combining data from EFS and data from IGN or INSEE. Results and conclusionThe authors present some examples of geomatics applied to blood supply and a feedback on the implementation of these tools in a French region. These innovative tools enhance expertise and increase the mastery of analysis for blood supply strategies.

Blood donors – Serious adverse reactions (SAR) 2010–2014 EFS Châteauroux, France

BackgroundIn 2013, the national French incidence of serious adverse reactions (SAR) was 155.7 per 100,000 donations and 82% of SAR were grade 2 (French classification of SAR related to blood donors) AimsThe purpose of our study was to describe the profile of blood donator candidate which had a SAR in our center. MethodsThe study contains all the SAR superior to grade 1 occurred on the site EFS Châteauroux (site and mobile blood collection) from January 2010 to October 31, 2014. We analyzed 37 parameters from the e-fit files (e-site French blood vigilance) and In-log software. ResultsWe identified 82 SAR for 72,553 blood donations (incidence: 113.02 SAR per 100,000 donations). Forty-one men and 41 women, middle age 39 years (18–66). Average height: 1.68m (1.49–1.85); average weight: 68kg (50–98); body mass index (kg/m2): 24,13(18.6–31.9). All donors were Caucasian and 30% unemployed. We found 74 vasovagal syncope (VVS), 5 hematomas, 2 arterial injuries and an adverse reaction to citrate. In 90%, the SAR was immediate and of grade 2 in 85% of cases. Thirty-seven percent of SAR were first donation in connection with whole blood in 87% of cases. Regarding the seniority of donors, the number of average donations (whole blood, plasma, platelets) was 16.5. An SAR determined the stop of blood donation in 65% of cases with nearly 80% stoppage if it was a first donation. Seventy-three percent of SAR as a VVS took place during blood collection or within 5minutes following the end of the donation. Sixty-one percent were men. Forty-four percent of cases were a first donation and 83% occurred in mobile blood collection. Average age was 36 years. The result was a permanent stop of all type of donations in 76% of cases. Twenty-seven percent of SAR as a VVS took place beyond 5minutes after the end of the donation. Seventy-five percent were women. Thirty percent of cases were a first donation and 95% of SAR occurred in mobile blood collection. Average age was 42 years. The result was a permanent stop of all type of donations in 40% of cases. ConclusionsWhen the SAR as a VVS occurs during or within 5minutes following the end of the donation, it leads to a permanent stop of any type of donation in 76% of cases.

Selective vehicle routing for a mobile blood donation system

In this study, a mobile blood collection system is designed with the primary objective of increasing blood collection levels. This design also takes into account operational costs to aim for collection of large amounts of blood at reasonable cost. Bloodmobiles perform direct tours to certain activities to collect blood, but at the end of each day, they bring the collected blood to a designated depot to prevent its spoilage. The proposed system consists of the bloodmobiles and a new vehicle called the shuttle that visits the bloodmobiles in the field on each day and transfers the collected blood to the depot. Consequently, bloodmobiles can continue their tours without having to make daily returns to the depot.We propose a mathematical model and a 2-stage IP based heuristic algorithm to determine the tours of the bloodmobiles and the shuttle, and their lengths of stay at each stop. This new problem is defined as an extension of the Selective Vehicle Routing Problem and is referred to as the SVRP with Integrated Tours. The performances of the solution methodologies are tested first on a real data set obtained from past blood donation activities of Turkish Red Crescent in Ankara, and then on a constructed data set based on GIS data of the European part of Istanbul. The Pareto set of optimum solutions is generated based on blood amounts and logistics costs, and finally a sensitivity analysis on some important design parameters is conducted.

Public awareness of blood donation in Central Saudi Arabia.

IntroductionIn Saudi Arabia, voluntary donors are the only source of blood donation. The aim of this study was to assess the level of public knowledge and attitude toward blood donation in Saudi Arabia.MethodsUsing a previously validated questionnaire that comprises 38 questions to assess the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and motivations towards blood donation, 469 Saudi adults who attended different shopping malls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were surveyed. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify the significant predictors of blood donation, with the significance set at P<0.05.ResultsApproximately half of all subjects (53.3%) reported that they had previously donated blood, 39% of whom had donated more than once. The knowledge percentage mean score was 58.07%, denoting a poor level of knowledge, with only 11.9% reporting a good level of knowledge. The attitude percentage mean score towards donation was 75.45%, reflecting a neutral attitude towards donating blood, with 31.6% reporting a positive attitude. Donation was significantly more prevalent among males than females (66% versus 13.3%; P<0.001). After adjustment for confounders, a higher knowledge score (t=2.59; P=0.01), a higher attitude score (t=3.26; P=0.001), and male sex (t=10.45; P<0.001) were significant predictors of blood donation. An inability to reach the blood donation centers and a fear of anemia were the main reasons for females not donating blood (49.9% and 35.7%, respectively), whereas a lack of time was the main reason for males (59.5%).ConclusionPrevalence of blood donation was less than satisfactory among the Saudi public, probably due to misconceptions, poor knowledge, and unfavorable attitude to donation. Educational programs are necessary to increase the level of knowledge and improve the attitude of the Saudi public toward blood donation. Providing mobile blood collection units nearer to individuals’ places of work to reduce their time costs of donating is a necessity.

Evaluation of Two Different Methods for Hemoglobin Screening of Blood Donors to Use in Mobile Blood Collection Team

AIM: The aim of the study is to compared two point-of care hemoglobin concentration measuring devices with laboratory measurements to determine their accuracy in mobile blood collection conditions. This two devices were the Pronto-7 (Masimo Corp., Irvine,CA) pulse co-oximeter and HemoCue Hb 201+ uses spectrophotometric method. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 152 individuals. The samples were tested for total hemoglobin measurement by three different methods: noninvaziv pulse co-oximeter device Pronto-7, finger-stick blood sample on an automated spectrophotometric device HemoCue and venous samples on an automated hemotology analyzer (reference device) RESULTS: According to the venous samples (mean Hb value is 14.6 g/dl), the mean hemoglobin levels were detected slightly higher in the fingerstick samples (mean Hb value is 15.1 g/dl) and slightly lower in the pulse co-oximetry (mean Hb value is 14.1 g/dl). The sensivity of HemoCue, Pronto-7 was 97.7%, 81.6% and their specifity was 31.2% and %43.7, respectively. The positive predictive values (PPV) of HemoCue and Pronto-7 were high (92.3% and 92.5%, respectively) but both of their negative predictive values (NPV) were low (62.5% and 21.8%, respectively). Of blood donors, 88.4% (138/152) percent were correctly classified with HemoCue and 78.2% were with Pronto-7. COCLUSION: Taking automated laboratory hemoglobin measurement as a reference, Pronto-7 gave lower readings for Hb value and was less accurate than the Hemo-Cue system

Social contagion of vasovagal reactions in the blood collection clinic: A possible example of mass psychogenic illness.

Observing or hearing about illness in another person can lead to reports of similar symptoms. Reports can occasionally be widespread. However, it has been difficult to document whether this is the result of genuine illness or the expression of anxiety with physical terminology. This study examined the effects of being able to see another blood donor experience vasovagal symptoms. Data were collected in mobile university blood collection clinics. Bedside research assistants coded whether the donor was able or not able to see another donor being treated for vasovagal symptoms. Dependent variables included subjective vasovagal symptoms indicated on the Blood Donation Reactions Inventory (BDRI) and the need for treatment oneself. Given the population of inexperienced donors, many (26% of the 1,209 participants) were able to see another donor treated for symptoms. Being able to see another donor treated was associated with higher scores on the BDRI and an increased likelihood of treatment for vasovagal symptoms oneself. However, this was limited to non-first-time blood donors, perhaps because of higher levels in first-time donors (ceiling effects) or greater attention to the environment in less "overwhelmed" repeat donors. In general, donors who were able to see another react rated themselves as less relaxed and had smaller increases in heart rate. During the 2-year follow-up, first-time donors who were able to see another react were slower to return to give blood again. Seeing another donor being treated for symptoms contributed to the vasovagal process in many donors. This environment provides a useful context to study social influences on symptoms and illness.

Modelling and simulation of blood collection systems: improvement of human resources allocation for better cost‐effectiveness and reduction of candidate donor abandonment

This study addresses the modelling and simulation of blood collection for fixed blood collection sites in a medium-sized large French city, as well as mobile blood collection in urban and rural environments. Formal Petri net models were used to describe all relevant donor flows of the various blood collection systems; the Petri net models were converted onto discrete-event simulation models, allowing the evaluation of a large number of scenarios and configurations of blood collection systems. Quantitative models were proposed that encompassed all components of the blood collection systems, such as the donor arrival process, resource capacities and performance indicators. Appropriate experimental designs and cost-effectiveness analyses were used to determine the best configurations of human resources and donor appointment strategies. The donor service level depended on both adequate human resources capacity and appropriate appointment strategies. These decisions depend on the distribution during the day of walk-in donors. Models permit to improve management of blood collection; they have now partially entered the real situation, awaiting further implementation.

Celebrating the World Blood Donor Day 2012

Celebrating the World Blood Donor Day 2012

Modeling and simulation of blood collection systems

This paper addresses the modeling and simulation of blood collection systems in France for both fixed site and mobile blood collection with walk in whole blood donors and scheduled plasma and platelet donors. Petri net models are first proposed to precisely describe different blood collection processes, donor behaviors, their material/human resource requirements and relevant regulations. Petri net models are then enriched with quantitative modeling of donor arrivals, donor behaviors, activity times and resource capacity. Relevant performance indicators are defined. The resulting simulation models can be straightforwardly implemented with any simulation language. Numerical experiments are performed to show how the simulation models can be used to select, for different walk in donor arrival patterns, appropriate human resource planning and donor appointment strategies.