Results of an educational program to promote the use of pooled instead of single-donor platelet transfusions.

Transfusion of platelets is commonly indicated in the inpatient oncology setting. These platelets are obtained either through apheresis from a single donor or pooled from the whole blood of several donors. The amount of transfused platelets, infection risk, incidence of alloimmunization, and increases in posttransfusion platelet count are similar for these two platelet products. Although single-donor platelets are preferred over pooled platelets in some instances, single-donor platelets are often given regularly, despite a higher cost and more limited donor supply. Oncology fellows at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas initiated an education campaign regarding the indications for pooled and single-donor platelet transfusions. The quality improvement campaign included seminars led by oncology fellows for nursing personnel and resident housestaff on the two oncology floors, as well as electronic correspondence to attending physicians. The number of pooled and single-donor platelet transfusions on the two floors was recorded for the 3 months after the education campaign (July-September 2011) and compared with the corresponding data from the previous year. Over the 3-month study period after the education campaign, the average percentage of pooled platelets transfused increased to 34.1% from 13.1% for the prior year. Given this increase, the estimated cost benefit over the 3-month study period was $45,000.