Blood Ordering and Transfusion Pattern: A Retrospective Monitoring of Seven Healthcare Institutions in Southern Kerman Province, Iran

Background: Blood and its products are the most precious resource to any healthcare institution, and the management of these limited resources is necessary to avoid wasting this precious gift. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the efficiency of blood ordering and transfusion practices in health care institutions of southern Kerman province, Iran. Methods: This retrospective survey was conducted between March and September 2019. The information of admitted patients in seven healthcare institutions in southern Kerman province, for whom one or more units of blood were requested, were collected. Cross-match to transfusion (CT) Ratio, Transfusion Index (TI), and Transfusion Probability (T%) were calculated. Values of 2.5, 0.5 and 30% were taken as standards, for CT, TI, and T%, respectively. Results: On average, 1.35±1.00 blood units are requested for each patient. For 4777 patients, 5647 units cross-matched, and only 4789 units were transfused. The overall CT ratio, TI, and T% were calculated as 1.17, 1.00, and 90.24%, respectively. The highest CT ratio was calculated for ICU and emergency departments, while the thalassemia center had the most desirable ratio. Conclusion: A desirable blood ordering and utilization pattern was observed in the healthcare institutions of southern Kerman province.