Collection and transfusion of blood and blood components in the United States, 1994.
BACKGROUND
Collections and transfusions of blood in the United States in 1994 were measured and compared with those in 1992.


METHODS
Completed survey questionnaires were returned by all 147 regional blood centers, 1340 American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) member hospitals, and 523 non-AABB hospitals. Statistical tests verified the representativeness of the sample.


RESULTS
The United States domestic blood supply in 1994 (13,340,000 units) was 3.3 percent less than in 1992. It included allogeneic blood (11,773,000 units), autologous blood (1,013,000 units), and directed donations (334,000 units). Of these, 432,000 units were rejected on testing, 11,107,000 units were transfused to 3,398,000 patients, and 1,801,000 units were discarded or unaccounted for. Platelet transfusions amounted to 7,866,000 units. Compared with the totals for 1992, transfusions of single-donor platelets (714,000 packs or 4,284,000 units) increased by 17.6 percent, while transfusions of platelet concentrates (3,582,000 units) fell by 23.6 percent. Fresh-frozen plasma transfusions (2,621,000 units) increased by 16.2 percent over the number for 1992.


CONCLUSIONS
The US blood collection rate in 1994 was 74.6 units per 1000 population of donor age, the lowest recorded level since 1971. The US RBC transfusion rate in 1994 was 42.8 units per 1000 population, about the same as 1979. Transfusions of single-donor platelets, 16.5 units per 1000 population, exceeded transfusions of platelet concentrate (13.8/1000) for the first time. Plasma transfusions were 10.1 units per 1000 population. The US blood supply in 1994 was adequate to meet patient demands.
Wallace
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Center for Management Systems, Snowmass Village, CO, USA.
Churchill
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Surgenor
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Cho
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McGurk
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D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000592:standards; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States