A simulation-based apheresis platelet inventory management model

Abstract

Background: The primary goals of apheresis platelet (AP) inventory management are to meet demand and minimize waste. AP inventory management is complicated by unpredictable demand for a product with a shelf life of only a few days and by hospital requests for APs that match the ABO types of patients identically.

Study design and methods: A simulation-based decision support system was developed to assist blood centers in reducing waste while meeting the demand for ABO-identical APs. The proposed model is validated using data from a blood center located in a major city in the southeast region of the United States.

Results: Based on data provided by the blood center, the proposed simulation model is able to suggest appropriate collection strategies that can reduce AP waste from 12%-14% to 6%-7% and decrease the unmet demand for ABO-identical APs from 25% to 21%.

Conclusion: The proposed simulation-based decision-making model is able to mimic the complexity of the AP inventory management system while reducing waste and predicting the need for ABO-identical APs.