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Cost Effectiveness of Use of Frozen Blood to Alleviate Blood Shortages
Author(s) -
Cumming P. D.,
Kendall K. E.,
Pegels C. C.,
Seagle J. P.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1977.17678075657.x
Subject(s) - economic shortage , blood collection , blood preservation , operations management , medicine , emergency medicine , economics , andrology , linguistics , philosophy , government (linguistics)
Human blood shortages are a perennial problem because of the relatively short life span (21 days) of stored blood and the traditional shortage periods during summer vacation months and other vacation periods. This study evalutes the use of frozen blood during these traditional shortage periods. An empirically‐based simulation model is used. During periods of excess supply surplus blood is frozen and during shortage periods frozen blood is thawed and used as a substitute for stored blood. The results of the study indicate that the use of frozen blood during shortage periods alleviates shortages but at a high cost. Improved blood collection scheduling management and promotion will attain the same results at a lower cost.