Instituting a thawed plasma procedure: it just makes sense and saves cents.
BACKGROUND
The objectives of this time-series study were to elucidate the impact of a thawed plasma standard operating procedure (TP SOP) on plasma wastage and on cost savings.


METHODS
This study compared plasma wastage for 1 year before versus 1 year after implementation of a TP SOP.


RESULTS
The plasma wastage and discard declined 79.7 and 64.9%, respectively, with a cost savings of $15,654.79 during the 1 year after implementation of the TP SOP. The risk that a unit of plasma would be wasted decreased 86.2% from Year 1 to Year 2 and the risk that a unit of plasma would be discarded decreased 76.3% from Year 1 to Year 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed the positive, sustained, impact of implementing a TP SOP. Twelve months after introducing the SOP our Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine Services' plasma wastage and discard were dramatically reduced, saving thousands of dollars. Initiating a TP SOP just makes sense; it is easy to implement, conserves plasma, and saves cents.
Wehrli
Gay
G
Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0286, USA. GWMD@virginia.edu
Taylor
Nancy E
NE
Haines
Annette L
AL
Brady
Thomas W
TW
Mintz
Paul D
PD
D001771:Blood Banks / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001793:Blood Preservation / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010949:Plasma; D000094902:Blood Banking / Q000379:methods*
D008506:Medical Waste