Background: The American Association of Blood Banks annually surveys institutional members on activities pertinent to blood collections, apheresis, and transfusions.
Study design and methods: Retrospective descriptive statistics and comparative statistical analyses including trend tests were performed on selected topics from the 1989, 1990, and 1991 Institutional Questionnaires. The data were compiled by institution type, namely, regional and community blood donor collection centers and hospital-based facilities. Evaluated topics included the apheresis and therapeutic procedures performed, transfusion-associated AIDS and hepatitis, and the blood components (red cells, platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate) that were collected, transfused, or outdated or discarded.
Results: Significant findings (p<0.05) included upward trends over time in the numbers of donor plateletpheresis units collected and transfused and in the numbers of random-donor platelet concentrates collected by hospitals. There was an upward trend over time in the outdating or discarding of all blood component types that was reported by hospitals. Data from blood centers showed the outdating or discarding of significant numbers of apheresis platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate. No significant trends were identified in the reported cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis or AIDS.
Conclusion: Ongoing data analysis of the institutional questionnaires provides information on trends in blood collection and transfusion-related activities.