Rate and reasons for discarding blood and blood product units at the Northern Zone Blood Transfusion Centre in Tanzania

Blood transfusion is an essential component in modern healthcare. Blood being an irreplaceable resource needs to be appropriately utilized with preferably minimal or zero percent wastage. Only one third of required blood units are collected in a Northern Tanzania Hospital, demanding the need for zero rate of discard of blood and blood products. This study aimed to determine the rate and reasons for discarding blood and blood products at Northern Zone Blood Transfusion Centre in Tanzania. From the current study the discard rate of blood and blood component units was 2.48% and the main reason for discarding blood and blood components was Transfusion Transmitted infections, followed by plasma prepared after 24 hours of collection of blood. . Furthermore, the common discarded blood product was packed red blood cells in Northern Tanzania.