OA2-AM24-MN-15 - Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology Impact on the Tracking RBC Units in the Emergency Department Refrigerator and on the Blood Bank Inventory

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology uses electromagnetic radio waves to exchange data between tags on RBC units and readers on the specially designed drawers installed in the refrigerators. It involves encoding RBC units with an RFID tag capturing relevant RBC unit information including donor identification number, product code, blood type, expiration date, product volume, negative antigens, CMV and irradiation status, drawer position and when a unit is removed from the spot.  The system provides storage of data and allows the rewrite and/or update of that stored data which is then displayed on the dashboard.  This technology is currently used to manage RBC inventory only.

 Over the years, tracking RBC units in the remote Emergency Department (ED) refrigerator had been a challenge for the Blood Bank.  Despite numerous educational sessions and provision of educational material for the ED staff, RBC units had been routinely taken out of the ED refrigerator without entering RBC orders and/or with partially filled or not filled blood bank forms.  RFID system was introduced into the Blood Bank inventory to resolve this issue.

Study

Design/Methods:

Study was performed to assess the Blood Bank and the remote ED refrigerator inventory practices six months prior and six months after the RFID technology was installed. 

The study analyzed time needed to track status of RBC units in the ED refrigerator, estimated time needed to perform counts, inspection, selection of RBC units, effect of the RFID on the temperature status of the Blood Bank refrigerator. It also evaluated general inventory practices including dispense, wastage and return rate of RBC units from both refrigerators.

Results/Findings:

Implementation of the RFID system in the Blood Bank and ED refrigerator inventory process led to a significant decrease in time needed to track RBC units taken out of the ED refrigerator from more than an hour to less than one minute.  Study showed that use of this technology significantly decreased temperature variability in the Blood Bank refrigerator. In addition, there was a significant decrease in technologist’s time for inventory counting, inspection and especially time needed for selection of RBC units for crossmatch.  No significant changes were noted in other inventory metrics including dispensing, wastage and return of RBC units.  See Table 1 for details.

Conclusions:

Implementation of the RFID system in the Blood Bank and in the ED refrigerator inventory process had a significant impact on the time needed to track status of RBCs units in the ED refrigerator. 

This technology improved functioning and utilization of the Blood Bank refrigerator due to less frequent opening of the door to count inventory and to select RBC units for crossmatch.

RFID system lessened staff work burden overall improved inventory management in the Blood Bank.