Collection and transfusion of blood and blood components in the United States, 1992

BACKGROUND: Studies were conducted to measure the state of the United States' national blood resource in 1992 and changes therein from 1989. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: With data supplied by the American Red Cross and the American Association of Blood Banks, as well as data from a stratified random-sample survey of 3350 non-American Association of Blood Banks hospitals, statistical methods were applied to estimate national blood activities in 1992. RESULTS: The total US blood supply in 1992 was 13,794,000 units, a decrease of 3.1 percent from 1989. Some 11,307,000 red cell units were transfused to 3,772,000 patients, an average of 3.0 units per transfused patient. Preoperative autologous blood deposits totaled 1,117,000 units, a 70-percent increase over 1989. Of this number, 566,000 units (50.7%) were transfused, 5,000 (4.4%) transferred to the allogeneic supply, and 546,000 (48.9%) discarded. Of 436,000 directed-donation units, 136,000 (31.2%) were transfused, 57,000 (13.1%) transferred to allogeneic supply, and 243,000 (55.7%) discarded. The total allogeneic blood supply, including imports, decreased by 7.4 percent from 1989, and allogeneic blood transfusions, including those to children, decreased by 8.6 percent. Over 8,300,000 platelet units were transfused; of these, some 3,600,000 were apheresis platelets. In addition, 2,255,000 units of plasma and 939,000 units of cryoprecipitate were transfused. CONCLUSION: While the US blood supply was adequate for transfusion needs in 1992, blood collections and red cell transfusions had decreased substantially since 1989.