@article {Bashawri555, author = {Layla A. Bashawri}, title = {Pattern of blood procurement, ordering and utilization in a University Hospital in Eastern Saudi Arabia}, volume = {23}, number = {5}, pages = {555--561}, year = {2002}, publisher = {Saudi Medical Journal}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The main objectives of this study were to review blood procurement, ordering, utilization, and causes of discarding blood in a University hospital and provide recommendations for improvement. The study was also aimed at sheding light on the frequency of seropositivity for certain disease markers in blood donors.METHODS: This review comprised a retrospective 5-year analysis from January 1996 to December 2000 at King Fahad Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.RESULTS: In this study, the most common donors were replacement (46\%) and statutory donors (35\%), while volunteer blood donors comprised a lower percentage (19\%). There was a high crossmatch transfusion ratio (2.96:1) and similarly a high percentage of cancelled transfusions after crossmatching (66.2\%). The 2 most commonly ordered blood components were packed red blood cells (45.7\%) and random platelet concentrates (19.2\%). The infective causes for discarding blood were: hepatitis B core antibody seropositivity (16.9\%), hepatitis B surface antigen seropositivity (2.4\%) followed by hepatitis C antibody seropositivity (1.5\%), and rapid plasma reagin (serological test for syphilis) positivity (1\%). The common non-infective causes of discarding blood in descending order or frequency were: expired unit shelf life (3.6\%), positive donor antibody screen (0.7\%), red blood cell morphological abnormalities (0.4\%), and blood unit insufficient quantity (0.3\%). Release of emergency uncrossmatched blood ranged at 0.6\% during the study period.CONCLUSION: Performing blood bank internal audits and reviewing statistics are vital tools for a successful blood transfusion service. Implementing policies such as type and screen and the maximum surgical blood-ordering schedules will lead to monetary savings and more effective blood utilization. Drives for enhancement of volunteer blood donors are recommended.}, issn = {0379-5284}, URL = {https://smj.org.sa/content/23/5/555}, eprint = {https://smj.org.sa/content/23/5/555.full.pdf}, journal = {Saudi Medical Journal} }