Blood usage and wastage at an academic teaching hospital before the initial wave of COVID-19 and during and after its quarantine periods.

Background: Transfusion services aim to maintain sufficient blood inventory to support patients, even with challenges introduced by COVID-19.

Objectives: To review blood usage and wastage before, during, and after COVID-19 surges, and to evaluate effects on inventory.

Methods: In a retrospective review, we evaluated the association between time periods corresponding to the initial wave of COVID-19 (pre-COVID-19, quarantine, and postquarantine) and blood usage/wastage.

Implementation of a molecular genotyping protocol for patients with warm autoantibodies.

Background: Warm autoantibodies (WAAs) cause delays and additional expenses while determining suitable products when using a traditional protocol (TP). In 2013, Carter BloodCare Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL) introduced a molecular protocol (MP) for patients with WAAs.

Study Design And Methods: Retrospective review of records for samples referred to the IRL from November 2004 to September 2020, was performed.