Background/Case Studies: The manufacturer of the equipment used to collect single donor apheresis platelets (SDP) recommends utilizing a default count of 250k/µL when a pre procedure platelet count is unavailable. At our facility, 50% of the SDPs drawn with the default value resulted in overconcentrated product. Six Sigma tools were used to help analyze the data source, the Optimal Procedure Query. We obtained the historic average donor platelet count for each blood center and found the lowest average donor platelet count was 285k/µL. The purpose of this study was to asses the impact on available platelets in inventory by increasing the donor platelet count to 285k/µL.
Study
Design/Methods: A Pareto analysis identified the leading cause of platelet production loss was over concentrated product outside the manufacturer’s specified range of 700-2100k platelets/µL . We examined the process flow and established a performance baseline using an X & MR chart. Our hypothesis was that pre procedure platelet count was directly related to the concentration of the product. By reducing the variation between the pre procedure platelet count and the actual donor platelet count we reasoned that we would yield more platelets within the manufacturer’s required range.
Results/Findings: Our historical default count failure rate was 14.3 percent. We performed a trial where 285k/µL was used as the default count instead of 250k/µL, and the failure rate that was observed during our trial was 7.8 percent, a 51 percent reduction! Percent overconcentrated units at each default value are shown in Table 1. We projected an additional 418 apheresis platelets available annually from product that was already being collected. In turn, this results in an approximate cost savings of $170K. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the default procedural platelet count is an important input to a successful SDP donation. It also highlights the importance of analyzing donor base specific data . Continuing to learn more about the stability of platelet counts between platelet donation, along with efficient use of data analysis and automation may allow blood centers to reclaim platelets that were thought to be lost to the blood supply.
Importance of research: Platelet donation requires a time intensive commitment from a donor, and fewer donors donate platelets year to year. In order to ensure continuity of platelet supply to hospitals, blood centers are constantly investigating ways to add more platelet donors, and decrease the number of platelets that are lost during our production processes. Studying donor base specific data gives blood centers an opportunity to increase available platelets without having to bring in more donors.
