COVID-19 Pandemic Leading to Blood Supply Shortages

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.