Hold everything! Holding policies for protecting plasma supplies.
In spite of advances in testing technologies for detecting infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), occasionally blood or plasma is collected that is potentially infectious, but is not detected as such by existing screening tests. We consider the effect of a holding policy for further reducing the number of potentially infectious units that are released for fractionation. The policy dictates a holding period during which all donated units are stored. If a donor tests positive for the infection in question at a subsequent donation, then all of that donor's units currently in storage are discarded. Otherwise, donated units are released at the end of the holding period. In the case of a single disease, we determine optimal holding periods as well as policies that are as effective as the best screening tests currently available.
Kaplan
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EH
Yale School of Management, New Haven, CT 06520-8200, USA. edward.kaplan@yale.edu
Satten
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GA
D001771:Blood Banks / Q000592:standards*; D001782:Blood Donors; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009934:Organization and Administration; D010949:Plasma