(P-TS-89) Transferring Blood Units within Our Organization Prior to Expiration Date to Prevent Wastage and Reduce Cost

Background/Case Studies: Blood transfusions play a crucial role in healthcare, but the limited shelf life of blood units means that a significant number of blood products are wasted each year. This wastage not only incurs a loss of valuable resources but also increases the cost of healthcare. To mitigate these costs, we began transferring Red Blood Cell (RBC) units prior to expiration date from our hospital system’s smaller satellite hospitals to the main hospital-based blood bank, which has a higher rate of RBC transfusion.

Study

Design/Methods: A retrospective data analysis was conducted to assess the clinical effectiveness of transferring blood units 10 days before their expiration date from two satellite hospitals of 30 and 135 beds to our Level 1 trauma-certified 443-bed hospital. The study included blood units that were transferred between 2021 and 2023. The primary outcome measures were the number of blood units wasted and the cost savings achieved through the transfer process across the healthcare system.

Results/Findings: Table 1 below summarizes each year’s unit transfer, transfusion, and cost reduction data after the policy was introduced. A previously validated inter-facility temperature-controlled blood unit receptacle was utilized to guarantee RBC viability. The first RBC unit transfer was in June of 2021, and the average cost of each RBC unit is $229.50. Out of the 488 RBC units transferred, 466 units were transfused. The product transfer policy reduced wastage by approximately 95%, with a total savings of $106,947, while only 22 RBC units (4.5%) were discarded. The results of the study showed that the transfer of blood units before their expiration date was an effective way to prevent wastage and reduce costs across a healthcare system.

Conclusions: The transfer of blood units prior to their expiration date shows promise as an effective way to prevent wastage and significantly reduce cost across a healthcare system without compromising product quality or patient safety. The study findings support the need for continued efforts to transfer blood units before their expiration date across a healthcare system and encourage adopting this practice in healthcare facilities.

Importance of research: Blood transfusions are a cornerstone of medical practice, and this approach not only reduces cost but also helps us to better utilize our valuable resources. This abstract is a novel approach to prevent wastage and reduce cost, and this may encourage the adoption of this practice in other medical facilities if applicable.