Reducing blood component wastage through targeted interventions: A four-year retrospective study at a Saudi tertiary hospital.

Background: Blood transfusion services are vital to healthcare; however, blood component wastage remains a persistent challenge for transfusion facilities, impacting resource efficiency and patient care. In this four-year retrospective before-and-after study, we investigated blood component wastage at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia to identify key causes of wastage and evaluate the impact of targeted interventions introduced in 2024.

Methods: Statistical analyses included z-tests for rate comparisons, effect size estimation using Cohen's h, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the impact of the interventions.

Results: From 2021 to 2024, 83,185 components were prepared and 13,954 units were discarded. Between 2021 and 2023, the average waste rate was 19.44%. Leading causes included expiration (28.40%), TTI screening reactivity (20.11%), and low platelet yield (18.39%). Following the 2024 implementation of targeted measures-including improved inventory policies, donor screening, and transfusion practices-total waste declined by 35.71% (p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.016 to 0.024), with a moderate effect size (Cohen's h = 0.20). Total monthly waste rates were also significantly reduced (mean difference of 7.73 percentage points; p < 0.001, 95% CI: 4.87% to 10.59%, Cohen's d = 2.29). The WAPI scores improved across all components, and associated costs were reduced by 15.9%, saving approximately SAR 171366 (US$45856).

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions for reducing blood component wastage and enhancing transfusion service efficiency. Ongoing monitoring and continuous quality improvement are essential to sustain these outcomes and further optimize transfusion practices.