60 million blood collection procedures are performed throughout the world every year to obtain blood's three major components: red cells, platelets, and plasma. These blood components are transfused to patients or used to make drugs.

Blood transfusions make possible many life-saving medical treatments. However, transfusing blood is like writing a prescription: a doctor only gives a patient the blood component dose needed for effective treatment.

Below are the blood components used in the treatment of various conditions*:

	Liver Transplant		6-10 units of red blood cells 20 units of plasma 10 units of platelets
	Adult Open Heart Surgery		2-6 units of red blood cells 2-4 units of plasma 1-10 units of platelets
	Automobile Accident		4-40 units of red blood cells
	Leukemia		2-6 units of red blood cells 6-8 units of platelets daily for 2-4 weeks
	Sickle Cell Disease		10-15 units of red blood cells for severe cases

*2000 Nationwide Blood Collection and Utilization Survey conducted by the National Blood
Data Resource Center.

Of the blood components, red cells are the most frequently transfused, accounting for forty million units annually. Demand for red cells continues to increase as supply continues to tighten. There are several reasons for this trend.

Surgeries requiring more transfusions, especially solid organ transplants, are increasing. Also, chemotherapy treatments are becoming more common. Both compromise a patient's ability to generate healthy blood cells so these patients require frequent transfusions of both platelets and red cells.

The population is aging, and so not only are these people who used to be frequent blood donors no longer able to give blood, but they are also starting to use blood. The next generation of potential blood donors has not adopted blood donation as part of their "culture" as past generations have.

The world continues to see an increasing number of blood shortages. Although the U.S. saw a record number of blood donors in September in response to the 9/11 tragedy, by January of 2002, U.S. blood collectors were already experiencing critical blood shortages. Weekly, there are reports around the globe of blood collectors making urgent "pleas" to donors. A 2000 survey of the U.S. blood supply noted that 7% of hospitals had postponed surgeries because of lack of available blood at some point during the year.

A separate trend in the blood collection industry is a move toward filtration of blood. Filters remove potentially harmful white blood cells from the red cell unit prior to transfusion to a patient. Ten countries currently mandate filtration of all blood, and fourteen additional countries, including the U.S., are moving toward filtering all blood.

Because of the pressures of supply and demand as well as the increasing costs associated with insuring blood safety, the cost of red cells is rising. In the U.S., blood collectors are passing these costs on to hospital customers with prices in some areas increasing as much as 50% per unit, for a total cost per unit averaging close to $200.

Over its history, Haemonetics has provided blood collection agencies with cost effective systems that enable them to take maximum advantage of their available supply of donated blood. The current trends in the industry are driving blood collectors toward automation so that they may utilize their existing donors to their fullest potential.