title: Tracking blood products in blood centres using radio frequency identification: a comprehensive assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radio frequency identification (RFID) can be a key enabler for enhancing productivity and safety of the blood product supply chain. This article describes a systematic approach developed by the RFID Blood Consortium for a comprehensive feasibility and impact assessment of RFID application in blood centre operations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our comprehensive assessment approach incorporates process-orientated and technological perspectives as well as impact analysis. Assessment of RFID-enabled process redesign is based on generic core processes derived from the three participating blood centres. The technological assessment includes RFID tag readability and performance evaluation, testing of temperature and biological effects of RF energy on blood products, and RFID system architecture design and standards. The scope of this article is limited to blood centre processes (from donation to manufacturing/distribution) for selected mainstream blood products (red blood cells and platelets).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radio frequency identification can help overcome a number of common challenges and process inefficiencies associated with identification and tracking of blood products. High frequency-based RFID technology performs adequately and safely for red blood cell and platelet products. Productivity and quality improvements in RFID-enabled blood centre processes can recoup investment cost in a 4-year payback period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radio frequency identification application has significant process-orientated and technological implications. It is feasible and economically justifiable to incorporate RFID into blood centre processes.
authors.affiliation: BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA. jerry.holcombe@bcw.edu
authors.forename: Rodeina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heaser
authors.forename: Dharmaraj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veeramani