Overall cost (£) of PLT 2012–2016.

<p>Overall cost (£) of PLT 2012–2016.</p

Platelet usage and wastage 2012–2016.

<p>Solid line = PLT ordered, dashed line = PLT transfused, dotted line = PLT wasted.</p

“Low platelet usage” haematology laboratories: To store or not to store?

<div><p>In the UK, hospitals with annual platelet use of less than 500 pools, like our institution, usually do not store platelets on-site and these are only ordered from the national blood service (NBS) when a transfusion is required. In 2016, we piloted routine on-site storage of one pool of A RhD negative PLT. Data were collected retrospectively on units of PLTs ordered from NBS, units transfused to patients, wastage, requirements for emergency deliveries from NBS and overall cost. These were compared to corresponding data from the four preceding years (2012–2015). There was a 39% reduction in the PLT ordered from NBS in 2016 compared to previous years and a 50% reduction in transfused PLT. Annual wastage for 2016 increased by 23% even though the absolute number of wasted PLT did not alter significantly. Annual cost reduced by 36% in 2016 resulting from reduction in the total amount of PLTs ordered as well as reduction in emergency deliveries.</p></div

Annual total hospital encounters, platelets ordered from the national blood service and platelets transfused to patients.

<p>Annual total hospital encounters, platelets ordered from the national blood service and platelets transfused to patients.</p