A computer‐based blood inventory system for a regional blood distribution center is described. The inventory system keeps track of every unit of blood outstanding in affiliated hospital blood banks. Information recorded and updated daily for each blood unit consists of unit number, blood type, expiration date, date received by hospital, and state of availability in regard to reservation for a patient. The computer used is a time‐sharing system with teletypewriter connections. The system can be updated to reflect shipments, transfusions, transfers, etc., at any time of the day, but to keep cost down it is updated only once each day. Affiliated hospitals may contact the computer system directly to acquire their inventory reports. Alternatively, the reports can be sent to them. A variety of summary statistics are produced daily for planning and control.
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Frankfurter et al. (1970) studied this question.