Heuristic platelet issuing policies for an integrated ABO blood bank system under heterogeneous demand: towards patient-centric management

Background Transfusion-transmitted reactions remain a significant concern in platelet transfusion medicine because of inadequate platelet inventory management (PIM) and allocation processes. Existing issuing policies lack structured, patient-centric approaches that adequately address compatibility factors and the allocation of platelet components based on specific treatment demands. Methods This model proposes a simulation-based, patient-centric platelet issuing policy that integrates product age preferences, ABO/Rh factor compatibility, and the blood group subtypes of A, and prioritizes platelet product preferences. A hybrid strategy combining Fresh Unit First Use (FUFU) and Old Unit First Use (OUFU) policies ensures precise allocation. Moreover, compatible substitution enables single-donor platelets (SDP) to replace random-donor platelets (RDP) and vice versa for the heterogeneous demand. Model parameters are derived from the literature and supplemented by preliminary expert input. The proposed model was evaluated through case studies, numerical example using MATLAB, and simulation experiments using Arena. Results The simulation results show improved operational performance in terms of service level, backlog reduction, and allocation efficiency across multiple demand scenarios. In particular, the conventional ABO system achieved service levels of 0% for the scenario service level of 99.9%, whereas the proposed policy achieved service levels above 50% for the same scenario, demonstrating its effectiveness in handling subtype-specific inventory management. Conclusion The proposed heuristic model provides a structured, simulation-based approach for evaluating issuing policies under compatibility and demand conditions. These findings highlight the potential incorporation of subtype classification and hybrid allocation strategies to enhance the operational efficiency of platelet inventory systems. However, the results are derived from a simulation environment, and further real-world validation is required to assess clinical applicability and safety. Sustainability development goals 2023 3 Good health and well-being.