Since 1997, the biennial National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) has been collecting data on blood use and collection in the U.S. Starting in 2008, surveys reported a decrease in both blood collection and transfusions—a trend that continued through 2015-2017 when levels began to stabilize. The most recent survey for 2021 included 136 blood collection centers and 2754 hospitals (40% of randomly selected smaller hospitals and all U.S. hospitals performing more than 1000 inpatient surgeries per year). Overall, 81.6% (111/136) of blood collection centers and 76.3% (2102/2754) of hospitals responded. Based on survey estimates, total RBC use in 2021 was similar to 2019. In 2021, 11,784,000 RBC units were collected (1.7% increase from 2019), and 10,764,000 were transfused (0.8% decrease from 2019). Surgery departments, however, used 16.9% fewer units, and neonatal departments increased use by 24.6%. Platelet and plasma collection and use was also relatively stable between 2019 and 2021 overall, but a 14.3% increase in platelet units transfused was reported for emergency departments and a 10.5% decrease for neonatal departments. NBCUS results suggest that both blood collection and use have plateaued, but uncertainty remains about transfusion needs in the coming years as the U.S. population ages and the pandemic ends.
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