Blood transfusion service in Poland in 2023

Streszczenie

Background: The aim of this study was to present the basic aspects of the activity of Polish blood transfusion service in 2023.

Material and methods: Analysis of data forwarded to the Institute of Hematology and
Transfusion Medicine by the Polish Blood Transfusion Centers (Centers).

Results: In 2023, there were 23 Centers and 135 local collection sites operating in Poland.
Blood and blood components were also collected during 12 443 mobile collections. The overall
number of blood donors was estimated at 639 972, the majority of which were non-remunerated
donors (639 697, including 23 331 responders to donation appeals) as well as 5 remunerated
donors and 273 autologous donors. Most frequent were whole blood collections (1 343 779
donations), and the least frequent — granulocyte concentrate collections (134 donations)
and collections by apheresis of RBC as the only component (34 donations). Whole blood was
collected mostly in local collection sites (50.56%), less frequently in Centers (29.28%) and during
mobile collections (20.15%). The most frequently prepared blood components were RBCs
(1 327 472 units) and FFP (1 649 586 units). In 2023, a total of 99 347 units of PCs pooled
from whole blood and 54 601 units of PCs from apheresis were prepared. However, plasma was
no longer collected from COVID-19 convalescents.

Additional processing methods (leukocyte depletion, irradiation) were more frequently applied
to PCs (100% leukodepleted, including 52.10% both leukodepleted and irradiated), than to
RBCs (25.35% leukodepleted, 10.71% both leukodepleted and irradiated, 0.04% irradiated).

Pathogen reduction technologies were applied to 23.97% of FFP units issued for clinical use
and 10.16% of PCs.

For various reasons the following amounts of blood components were wasted in 2023: 10 314
units of whole blood, 33 767 units of RBCs, 54 569 units of FFP, 2194 units of apheresis PCs,
4 205 units of pooled PCs and 1381 units of cryoprecipitate giving a total of 106 430 units of
blood.

As compared to the years 2020–2022, the value of most indicators of the activity of the blood
transfusion service in Poland has increased.

Conclusions: The data presented in this report may serve as a starting point for the analysis
of issues related to the activity of organizational units of the Polish blood transfusion service.
The outcome may contribute to practical benchmarking, comparing experiences and seeking
new solutions.