Cost‐effectiveness of a limited‐donorblood program for neonatal red cell transfusions

Abstract

The limited-donor blood program reduces donor exposure without adversely affecting costs.

Estimating blood needs for very‐low‐birth‐weight infants

“…Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of dedicated RBC unit protocols for VLBW infants 7‐10,12‐15 . Reserving blood units to individual patients is achievable, yet widespread application could lead to blood wastage.…”

Assessment of safety in neonates for transfusion of platelets and plasma prepared with amotosalen photochemical pathogen inactivation treatment by a 1‐month intravenous toxicity study in neonatal rats

“…In today's practice, special PLT inventories are frequently maintained for neonatal patients, in attempts to administer transfusions free of CMV, parvovirus B19, WBCs, and bacteria 8 . This may involve the utilization of several blood safety technologies, including serology and nucleic acid testing, leukofiltration, gamma irradiation, and single‐donor apheresis collection instead of whole blood pooling 9‐12 …”

“…Several approaches are used today in attempts to provide safe blood components to neonates. Limiting donor exposure is common, but may necessitate single‐donor apheresis 9,10 . Maintaining a supply of well‐characterized donors on hand and splitting donations from single donors are also utilized to provide safer transfusion product to pediatric patients 11,12 .…”

Data‐driven blood banking practices for neonatal RBC transfusions

“…When infants assigned to a unit no longer require RBC transfusions, the remainder of the unit is placed in the general inventory for transfusion to older patients. This plan has been demonstrated to be cost‐effective 17 …”