The Platelet Supply Problem
Limited platelet supply and increasing demand are putting patients and hospitals at risk1,2
On average, 7,000 platelet transfusions are administered each day in the US.3 Oftentimes, hospitals struggle to meet this demand for platelets. Meanwhile, our rapidly aging population and enhanced transfusion safety requirements put a further strain on the available platelet supply.1,4
Without a safe, reliable source of platelets, some hospitals must postpone transfusions and surgeries, putting their patients at risk.2
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Click the facts to view expanded insights about the platelet supply problem
STS is committed to helping meet the nation’s platelet needs with an innovative approach that taps an expanded, younger pool of prescreened donors to ensure a safe, consistent supply of platelets
References:Â
- Stubbs JR, Homer MJ, Silverman T, Cap AP. The current state of the platelet supply in the US and proposed options to decrease the risk of critical shortages. Transfusion. 2021;61(1):303-312. doi:10.1111/trf.16140. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/trf.16140
- Pandey S, Belanger GA, Rajbhandary S, et al. A survey of US hospitals on platelet inventory management, transfusion practice, and platelet availability. Transfusion. 2021;61(9):2611-2620. doi:10.1111/trf.16561. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/trf.16561
- American Red Cross. Blood needs & blood supply. Accessed March 10, 2021. https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/how-blood-donations-help/blood-needs-blood-supply.html
- Sachais BS, Paradiso S, Strauss D, Shaz BH. Implications of the US Food and Drug Administration draft guidance for mitigating septic reactions from platelet transfusions. Blood Adv. 2017;1(15):1142-1147. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2017008334. https://ashpublications.org/bloodadvances/article/1/15/1142/15748/Implications-of-the-US-Food-and-Drug
- Mather M, Jacobsen LA, Pollard KM. Population bulletin: Aging in the United States. Population. Bulletin. 2015;70(2):1-23. Accessed September 22, 2021. https://www.prb.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/aging-us-population-bulletin-1.pdf
- Selected Charts on the Long-Term Fiscal Challenges of the United States. Peter G. Peterson Foundation. August 2021. https://www.pgpf.org/sites/default/files/PGPF-Chart-Pack.pdf
- Jones JM, Sapiano MRP, Mowla S, Bota D, Berger JJ, Basavaraju SV. Has the trend of declining blood transfusions in the United States ended? Findings of the 2019 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey. Transfusion. 2021;61 Suppl 2:S1-S10. doi:10.1111/trf.16449. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/trf.16449
- Sayers, M. Donor motivation and psychosocial research. Transfusion. 2022;1-5. doi:10.1111/trf.17024. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/trf.17024
