Prior to the tragedy of September 11th, blood shortages were widespread and frequent. Surgeries around the country were being delayed; regions all over the U.S. and in other countries had less than a one-day supply of blood on the shelf (“preferred” supply is 5 days); and the FDA was reporting that “blood availability is a safety issue.” In July, 2001 alone, 20 cities placed urgent requests for blood donors.

Although the system was flooded with donors immediately after September 11, that spike in donation appears to have been short-term, with many cities again reaching a supply crisis.

Haemonetics' Response: Automated Technology Enables Inventory Management

As the population eligible to donate blood grows smaller and fewer eligible people donate, blood centers must respond by more efficiently using the donors they have. Haemonetics' automated technology allows blood centers to optimally use their donor base.

For example, from a Type 0 donor (a universal red cell donor), blood centers can collect two units of red cells. From a donor who is an AB blood type, a universal plasma donor, that donor might be encouraged to donate one transfusible dose of plasma. A donor with a high platelet count can be encouraged to donate one or two units of platelets.

Number of Donors Required to Make Units of Blood Components
Blood Components	Automated Technology Donors	Whole Blood Donors
2 units platelets	1	16
1 unit platelets; 1 unit plasma	1	10
1 unit platelets	1	8
1 unit red cells; 2 units plasma	1	5
2 units plasma	1	4
2 units red blood cells	1	2

This chart illustrates how a blood center can increase its yield of blood components by comparing how many blood components one person can donate using automated technology with how many whole blood donors would be needed to donate the same number of blood components.

Haemonetics' Response: Go Where the Donors Are

Seventy percent of the blood supply is collected in a mobile environment, whereby the blood collector transports itself to the donors’ location. Additionally, hospital surgical suites are generally tight on space, with equipment size a factor in purchasing decisions. Haemonetics' blood collection technology is designed with mobility and ease of use in mind.