Blood donation and blood components utilization in Suratthani Hospital

Background: Blood and its components are essential, irreplaceable biological resources required for a wide range of medical interventions, including surgery, trauma care, and chronic disease management. Despite ongoing improvements in blood services, many hospitals continue to experience challenges related to fluctuating donation rates, shortages of specialized components, and inefficiencies in blood utilization such as excessive crossmatching without transfusion. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of blood-donation management and the adequacy of blood-component supply relative to clinical demand at Suratthani Hospital. Additionally, it assessed the appropriateness of blood utilization using the crossmatch-to-transfusion (C/T) ratio as a key performance indicator. Materials and methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using data collected at Suratthani Hospital from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024. Information on blood donation types, blood-component preparation, utilization patterns, and C/T ratios was analyzed to assess supply-demand dynamics and rational use of blood products. Results: On-site donation was the primary source of blood supply (49.9-65.5%), followed by off-site donation (32.4-47.7%) and single-donor platelet (SDP) donations (2.1-3.2%). Both blood donations and component utilization increased notably in 2024. Packed red cells (PRC) were the most frequently used component (37.6-44.7%) and constituted most transfusion requests (38.0-43.9%). Over five years, platelet concentrate (PC), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and cryoprecipitate were consistently adequate, whereas leukocytedepleted PRC (LDPRC), leukocyte-poor PRC (LPRC), and SDP remained insufficient, requiring additional units from the Thai Red Cross blood center. A total of 18,348 units were crossmatched, with annual C/T ratios ranging from 1.5 to 1.8 and showing no significant variation (p=0.121), indicating appropriate utilization.. Conclusion: Blood bank management at Suratthani Hospital demonstrated overall effectiveness, with adequate supply of PRC, FFP, and cryoprecipitate and appropriate utilization reflected by acceptable C/T ratios. However, persistent shortages of LDPRC, LPRC, and SDP highlight critical gaps in meeting increasing clinical needs. Strengthening donor recruitment strategies, expanding apheresis capacity, and enhancing regional collaboration are essential to ensuring a sustainable blood supply for southern Thailand.