• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Transfusion News
  • About Us
  • Topics
    • Adverse Events (non-infectious)
    • Blood Donation
    • Cell Therapy
    • Coagulation & Plasma Transfusion
    • Platelet Transfusion
    • Policy and Guidelines
    • Quality Control and Regulatory
    • RBC Transfusion
    • Serology/Genotyping
    • Special Transfusion Situations
    • Transfusion Transmitted Infections
  • Continuing Education
  • Archives
  • Podcasts
  • Question of the Day
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts
  • Follow us on
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts

COVID-19 Pandemic Leading to Blood Supply Shortages

March 17, 2020

The worldwide pandemic of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 disease (or coronavirus disease 2019), is disrupting every aspect of the medical community as well as everyday lives.  Our blood supply is totally dependent on altruistic, on-demand donations since all blood products have a limited shelf life.  There are currently blood shortages in many regions across the U.S. and also in other countries with high burdens of COVID-19.  Many regions in the U.S. have only a one or two day supply of blood instead of a one or two week inventory.  The closings of universities and major companies has forced blood collection agencies to cancel hundreds of blood drives leading to tens of thousands fewer blood donations.  Peter Marks, M.D., PhD., director of the U.S. FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research has made an urgent call, “We need people to start turning out in force to give blood.” The FDA, AABB, American Red Cross, and other blood collection agencies are urging all hospitals to proactively develop strategies for potential blood shortages, communicate with collection agencies about utilization needs and inventory, and ensure the ability to track blood products.  Most importantly, the transfusion medicine community needs to re-assure the public about the safety of donating blood when social distancing measures are being encouraged and remind the public that there is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by blood transfusions.  Blood supply shortages are likely to continue for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the transfusion community needs to prepare accordingly.

References:

  1. AABB Advocacy, Regulatory Affairs.  Statement on Coronavirus and Blood Donation.  
  2. AABB Press. “We Need People to Start Turning Out in Force to Give Blood” FDA urging people to donate blood as coronavirus fears intensify. 
  3. FDA Safety and Availability (Biologics). Updated information for blood establishments regarding the novel coronavirus outbreak. 
  4. Nagurney A. How coronavirus is upsetting the blood supply chain. 
  5. Stiepan DD. Critical blood shortages because of COVID-19. 
  6. American Red Cross Press Release. We need people to start turning out in force to give blood.  FDA urging people to donate blood as coronavirus fears intensity.

Filed Under

  • Blood Donation
  • News

Recommended

  • Genetic Variation in the Fc-gamma Receptor Gene is Associated with Protection against RBC Alloimmunization

  • Donor Age, Sex, and Hemoglobin Levels Associated with RBC Transfusion Effectiveness in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

  • Covid-19 Convalescent Plasma Neutralizes Variants of Concern Including Omicron

Show Comments

Comments on this article are closed.

Get the latest news. Subscribe to our mailing list. Sign Up

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • New Erythropoietin Gene Variants Linked to Hereditary Erythrocytosis

  • Multifaceted Threats to the Blood Supply from Climate Change

  • Distinct Roles for Differently Aged Platelets

  • Anemia Treatment Bundle Improves Hemoglobin Recovery after Critical Illness

    Question of the Day

    Copyright © 2025 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Privacy Policy

    Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies Wiley