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Transfusion Service - Transfusion Service Inventory Management/Storage and Distributions

(P-TS-6) A Time/Motion Study to Assess Irradiated and Pathogen Reduced Platelet Component Inventory Management and Workflow at Transfusion Service Sites

Sunday, October 26, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM  PT

    Presenting Author(s)

  • EP

    Erin Portillo

    Cerus Corporation, Concord, CA, USA, United States

Background/Case Studies: Transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD) is a rare, yet often fatal, adverse event caused by residual donor T-cells in donated blood. Nuclear source irradiation and amotosalen-UVA are FDA approved methods to mitigate TA-GVHD risk in platelet components (PC). PR also is approved to replace bacterial screening and CMV serology. In the US, the practice of irradiation is heterogenous. Most facilities use irradiated PC as needed, by patient indication, while others use it universally to avoid errors. Some hospital institutions perform irradiation in-house, while others purchase irradiated PC from their suppliers. Here we evaluate a blood bank workflow comparison between irradiation and the use of PR PC. We hypothesize that PR provides simplification of inventory management as well as increased platelet availability in different hospital blood bank settings.

Study

Design/Methods: A time/motion analysis is designed to compare the workflow and inventory management of irradiated and PR PCs at hospitals with different characteristics. Direct observation and mapping of process steps are planned for 2-3 institutions that include the following variables:


  • Hold an inventory of both conventional and PR platelet

  • Perform irradiation on-site or purchase irradiated product from suppliers

  • Perform irradiation on-demand or hold irradiated product in inventory

  • Varied distances between hospital and supplier



Results/Findings: The following workflow has been characterized through literature review1-5 and hospital interviews. Further information will be shown upon completion of a detailed workflow study.

Conclusions: PR PCs provide an alternative to irradiated PCs which may simplify inventory management in different hospital settings. An additional benefit may include the reduced risk of error due to the transfusion of non-irradiated components to patients for which TA-GVHD mitigation is indicated.


  1. Quinnan Jr, Gerald V. “Recommendations Regarding License Amendments and Procedures for Gamma Irradiation of Blood Products.” CBER Fax Information System Document No. 0141, FDA, July 1993.

  2. Circular of Information for the Use of Human Blood and Blood Components, AABB, June 2024.

  3. The INTERCEPT Blood System for Platelets Package Insert, Cerus Corporation; December 19, 2023.

  4. Pritchard AE, Shaz BH. Survey of Irradiation Practice for the Prevention of Transfusion-Associated Graft-versus-Host Disease. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2016 Oct;140(10):1092-7.

  5. Li M, et al. Is pathogen reduction an acceptable alternative to irradiation for risk mitigation of transfusion-associated graft versus host disease? Transfus Apher Sci. 2022 Apr;61(2):103404.