FDA Report Shows Decreasing Trend of Transfusion-Related Fatalities

An annual report of transfusion fatalities for fiscal year(FY) 2011, released by the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, indicates that the blood supply is safer today than at any previous time in history, and that transfusion-related deaths appear to be declining.  During FY2011, 79 fatality reports were received by the FDA, with 69 fatalities among transfusion recipients.  Among mortality among transfusion recipients, 30 (43%) of these cases were definitively attributable to the transfusion.  The portion of transfusion-related fatalities due to transfusion related acute lung injury declined from 18 to 10 cases between FY2010 and FY2011.

Reference

FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Fatalities Reported to the FDA Following Blood Collection and Transfusion: Annual Summary for Fiscal Year 2011, 2012.