According to the 2023 U.S. National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS), blood transfusions have stabilized following a sharp decline from 2008 to 2017. Data from community-based (n=53) and hospital-based (n=104) blood collection centers and transfusing hospitals (n=2,478) indicate that the number of transfusions has remained steady for the past three years despite an aging population. In 2023, 11.6 million units of whole blood and apheresis RBCs were collected, and 11.3 million were transfused—a 4.1% decline compared to 2021. For platelets, 2.2 million of 2.6 million units collected were transfused, representing 3.6% and 2.1% increases, respectively since 2021. Notably, about half of these were pathogen reduced platelet units, which is a 49.2% increase over 2021. Of the 123,000 units rejected after screening for transfusion-transmitted infections, approximately two-thirds were rejected due to hepatitis B virus or Treponema pallidum infections. Compared to 2021, there was a 13.8% increase in outdated units for whole blood and RBC units but only a 0.5% decline in total available supply. Continued monitoring of the U.S. blood supply remains essential for emergency preparedness and regulatory efforts to ensure a safe and stable blood supply.
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