DATA ON APHERESIS, BLOOD COLLECTION, AND TRANSFUSION-RELATED ACTIVITIES - STATISTICAL-ANALYSES OF THE AMERICAN-ASSOCIATION-OF-BLOOD-BANKS INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONNAIRES

Background: The American Association of Blood Banks annually surveys i nstitutional members on activities pertinent to blood collections, aph eresis, and transfusions. Study Design and Methods: Retrospective desc riptive statistics and comparative statistical analyses including tren d tests were performed on selected topics from the 1989, 1990, and 199 1 Institutional Questionnaires, The data were compiled by institution type, namely, regional and community blood donor collection centers an d hospital-based facilities, Evaluated topics included the apheresis a nd therapeutic procedures performed, transfusion-associated AIDS and h epatitis, and the blood components (red cells, platelets, fresh-frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate) that were collected, transfused, or outd ated or discarded. Results: Significant findings (p<0.05) included upw ard trends over time in the numbers of donor plateletpheresis units co llected and transfused and in the numbers of random-donor platelet con centrates collected by hospitals, There was an upward trend over time in the outdating or discarding of all blood component types that was r eported 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. Concl usion: Ongoing data analysis of the institutional questionnaires provi des information on trends in blood collection and transfusion-related activities.