Quality Control of Red Cell Concentrates: An Insight into the Effective Functioning of the Blood Centre

Abstract

Background: The global adoption of blood component therapy has led to the establishment of quality control programs in blood centers, ensuring the safety and efficacy of blood components. Quality control guarantees the availability of high-quality blood components, minimizing the risk of transfusion-related adverse events. As red cell concentrates are used daily in our blood center, evaluating their quality control processes is crucial. This study aimed to assess the quality control processes for red cell concentrates at our blood center.

Materials and Methods: A 5-year retrospective study was conducted at a blood center attached to a tertiary care hospital. Data was collected from 2019 to 2023. A total of 48,662 units of blood were collected during this period. Whole blood was subjected to component separation, and 46,930 units of red cell concentrates were prepared. Four units per month, or 1% of red cell concentrates prepared, were subjected to quality control as per the standard guidelines.

Results: The mean volume of red cell concentrates prepared from 350 ml and 450 ml whole blood without additive solution was 158.98 ml and 243.13 ml, respectively, whereas those prepared with additive solution were 241.79 ml and 314.46 ml, respectively. A total of 81.12% of red cell concentrates without additive solution met the quality standard (hematocrit 65–70%). Additionally, 86.69% of red cell concentrates with additive solution met the quality standard (hematocrit 50–60%).

Conclusion: Our study confirms that the quality of red cell concentrates meets standard guidelines. Routine quality control is essential to ensure efficacy, minimize transfusion risks, and drive manufacturing advancements.