Premium
Should autologous blood that tests positive for infectious diseases be used or discarded?
Author(s) -
DZIK W. H.,
DEVARAJAN S.
Publication year - 1989
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.1537-2995.1989.29890020447.x
Subject(s) - transfusion medicine , medicine , event (particle physics) , intensive care medicine , outcome (game theory) , unit (ring theory) , blood transfusion , actuarial science , immunology , mathematics , business , physics , quantum mechanics , mathematics education , mathematical economics
Decision analysis was applied to the question of whether to keep or discard autologous blood donations that test positive for viral markers. The decision is reached by analyzing a series of different events that lead to different outcomes. The probability of each event must be estimated and a value (“utility”) assigned to specific outcomes. The underlying assumptions of the analysis are reviewed. After assigning a probability to each event and a utility to each outcome, one can compute a probability ( P *) that is compared to the likelihood that the autologous donor will need transfusion. If the probability of transfusion exceeds P *, then keeping the infectious unit is favored. Otherwise, discarding the infectious unit is preferred. The analysis argues against a single, uniform national policy regarding the disposition of infectious autologous units. The method outlined provides a rational basis for setting policy regarding a controversial issue in Transfusion Medicine.