Storage time of blood products and transfusion-related acute lung injury.

Background: Besides white blood cell antibodies in plasma-rich products, another cause of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) could be release of biologically active substances during storage of cellular blood products. We aimed to investigate the association of storage time and risk of TRALI for different product types.

Study Design And Methods: We compared storage time of blood products transfused within 6 hours before the onset of TRALI to storage time of a representative sample of all blood products transfused in the Netherlands.

Cost-effectiveness of additional blood screening tests in the Netherlands.

Background: During the past decade, blood screening tests such as triplex nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or I (HTLV-I/II) antibody testing were added to existing serologic testing for hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). In some low-prevalence regions these additional tests yielded disputable benefits that can be valuated by cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs). CEAs are used to support decision making on implementation of medical technology.

Demographic changes and predicting blood supply and demand in the Netherlands.

Background: Concerns have been raised that aging of the general population will increase the demand for blood products. Modeling can be applied to assess trends in blood demand and supply and predict how these will develop over time.

Study Design And Methods: We developed mathematical models to describe and predict the national demand of red blood cell (RBC) products.