title: Crossover use of donated blood for autologous transfusion: report of the Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Controversy exists concerning whether the costs and potential risks outweigh the potential benefits of "crossover" use in the general blood supply of unutilized blood that was donated for autologous transfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published articles and reports were identified through systematic search of MEDLINE and review of references cited in previously identified articles, textbooks, and reports. Consultation was made with experts in blood donation and transfusion. Additional peer review was received from the American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Scientific Affairs
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concern over infectious disease transmission has led to increased interest in and support for autologous transfusion for individuals having planned surgeries. Different requirements exist for collection, labeling, and screening of blood to be used for autologous versus allogeneic transfusions; therefore, procedures for diverting autologous blood donations to the general blood supply involve considerable expense. Several cost-effectiveness studies of autologous blood donation and transfusion conclude that currently this "crossover" appears to be an expensive procedure yielding little increased benefit from a societal perspective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recommendations in this report were adopted as AMA Policy at the AMA Annual Meeting in June 1997. The AMA does not encourage blood collection programs to "cross over" units donated for autologous use to the allogeneic blood supply. Practice guidelines are needed, and should be utilized to ensure parsimony in the use of autologous blood donations and transfusions.
authors.affiliation: Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genel
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Howe
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000191:economics; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000635:transmission; D016239:MEDLINE