P-06 Factors affecting blood wastage at the national blood transfusion service in Guyana in 2023
Author(s):
C Fitzpatrick, K Spencer, D DeNobrega, P Lewis, H Doodnauth
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: To determine the frequency of blood wastage
and the various rejection criteria at the National Blood
Transfusion Service (NBTS) in Guyana in 2023, and to provide practical recommendations for improving the blood
bank management system.
Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional study design to identify the factors that led to blood wastage in 2023 at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS). All donated blood products in 2023 were analyzed to determine the proportion of characteristic reasons for discard and the rate of wastage. Secondary data were collected through a review of NBTS records and documents and statistical analyses were conducted Microsoft Excel 2016.
Results: A total of 10,908 units of blood were screened in 2023 at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS). Of these, 606 units were rejected. The was 95% confidence that the true frequency of rejection lay between 5.1%–6.0%. The primary reason for rejection was the presence of infectious markers, accounting for 464 units (76.6%) of the total rejections. This was followed by expired units, which represented 114 cases (18.8%). Other causes included broken bags (1.5%), components with RBC contamination (1.2%), burst bags (0.7%), bags with clots (0.7%), and units testing positive for Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT) and Indirect Antiglobulin Test (IAT), each accounting for 0.1%.
Conclusion: This NBTS recorded a 5.56% (606/10,908) blood wastage rate in 2023 indicating a measurable loss in usable blood supply, infectious markers and expired units were the main causes. To reduce wastage and ensure a safe blood supply, improving donor screening, inventory management and quality assurance, as well as maintaining a reliable pool of low- risk donors, are crucial.