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. 2022 Jun;117(6):822-830.
doi: 10.1111/vox.13256. Epub 2022 Mar 8.

International Society of Blood Transfusion survey of experiences of blood banks and transfusion services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Arwa Z Al-Riyami  1 , Thierry Burnouf  2   3 , Erica M Wood  4 , Dana V Devine  5   6 , Adaeze Oreh  7 , Torunn Oveland Apelseth  8 , Ruchika Goel  9   10 , Evan M Bloch  9 , Karin van Den Berg  11   12 , Mahrukh Getshen  13 , Vernon Louw  12 , Ai Leen Ang  14 , Cheuk Kwong Lee  15 , Naomi Rahimi-Levene  16 , Susan L Stramer  17 , Ralph Vassallo  18 , Torsten J Schulze  19 , Gopal Kumar Patidar  20 , Hem Chandra Pandey  20 , Rounak Dubey  21 , Maha Badawi  22 , Salwa Hindawi  22 , Abdullah Meshi  23 , Tadashi Matsushita  24 , Enrico Sorrentino  25 , Rada M Grubovic Rastvorceva  26   27 , Renée Bazin  28 , Marion Vermeulen  11 , Susan Nahirniak  29 , Hamilton C Tsang  30 , Hans Vrielink  31 , Teguh Triyono  32 , Marcelo Addas-Carvalho  33 , Ana Hećimović  34 , Oscar W Torres  35 , Samclide M Mutindu  36 , Jesper Bengtsson  37 , Diego Dominguez  38 , Ahmed Sayedahmed  39 , Rozi Hanisa Musa  40 , Bipul Gautam  41 , Eszter Herczenik  42 , Cynthia So-Osman  31   43 ; ISBT COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Working Group
Affiliations

International Society of Blood Transfusion survey of experiences of blood banks and transfusion services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Arwa Z Al-Riyami et al. Vox Sang. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Background and objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted blood systems worldwide. Challenges included maintaining blood supplies and initiating the collection and use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP). Sharing information on the challenges can help improve blood collection and utilization.

Materials and methods: A survey questionnaire was distributed to International Society of Blood Transfusion members in 95 countries. We recorded respondents' demographic information, impacts on the blood supply, CCP collection and use, transfusion demands and operational challenges.

Results: Eighty-two responses from 42 countries, including 24 low- and middle-income countries, were analysed. Participants worked in national (26.8%) and regional (26.8%) blood establishments and hospital-based (42.7%) institutions. CCP collection and transfusion were reported by 63% and 36.6% of respondents, respectively. Decreases in blood donations occurred in 70.6% of collecting facilities. Despite safety measures and recruitment strategies, donor fear and refusal of institutions to host blood drives were major contributing factors. Almost half of respondents working at transfusion medicine services were from large hospitals with over 10,000 red cell transfusions per year, and 76.8% of those hospitals experienced blood shortages. Practices varied in accepting donors for blood or CCP donations after a history of COVID-19 infection, CCP transfusion, or vaccination. Operational challenges included loss of staff, increased workloads and delays in reagent supplies. Almost half of the institutions modified their disaster plans during the pandemic.

Conclusion: The challenges faced by blood systems during the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the need for guidance, harmonization, and strengthening of the preparedness and the capacity of blood systems against future infectious threats.

Keywords: COVID-19; blood supply; convalescent plasma; pandemic; transfusion.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Geographical distribution and demographics of survey respondents (n = 82, from 42 countries)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Operational recommendations for blood establishments and transfusion services to prepare for future viral threats/pandemics. CCP, COVID‐19 convalescent plasma; PBM, patient blood management; PPE, personal protective equipment; NGO, non‐governmental organization
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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