(P-BC-48) Optimizing Blood Center Inventory Through Strategic Collection of Low-Volume Red Cell Units: Insights from Demographic and Eligibility Analyses

Amidst critical blood shortages, blood centers have implemented strategies to mitigate wastage. In December 2022, our Blood Center began manufacturing low-volume (LV) red cells units, a licensed product in which under collected units ranging from 333-449 mL of whole blood is collected into 500 mL bags. This initiative has bolstered our inventory by 2%. Investigating LV donor eligibility criteria, demographics, and reaction rates has not been explored which may provide further insights into developing a process for the intentional collection of these LV units to focus on donor safety and improving the donor experience.

Study

Design/Methods:

Our retrospective study took place from December 5, 2022 through March 17, 2024, and compared whole blood (WB) to LV donors demographics of the same period.  Data on donor eligibility criteria (weight, vital signs, and hemoglobin), draw time, donor reaction adverse events, and first-time donor status (FTD) was collected using our blood establishment system.  Differences in donor demographics and eligibility criteria were assessed using linear regression analysis with subsequent post hoc tests using Tukey’s method to adjust for multiple comparisons. A p< 0.5 was considered statistically significant.

Results/Findings:

Results:

A total of 74,908 units were collected during this time period. Of those, 73,197 were WB units whereas 1,711 were LV units (2.3% of total collection inventory). Age, weight, gender, donor and  donor eligibility criteria are provided in Table 1. Compared to WB donors, LV donors were younger, weighed less, have an extended draw time, and have a slightly elevated pulse.  Furthermore, there was a 17% higher incidence of FTD among LV donors compared to WB donors.

Conclusions:

In conclusion, our study underscores the potential of developing a process for the intentional collection of low-volume red cell (LVRC) units to augment blood center inventory amidst critical shortages. By targeting LVRC donors with specific demographics—such as younger age, lower weight, and elevated pulse—we can optimize donor selection while maintaining product quality. Moreover, our findings highlight a heightened incidence of first-time donors (FTD) among LVRC donors, suggesting a potential avenue for optimizing the donor experience and establishing loyal donors. Further research into LVRC donor eligibility criteria promises to enhance donor safety and experience, ultimately fortifying blood center operations and bolstering the donor experience.