AUTHOR=van Sambeeck Joost H. J. , de Wit Puck D. , Luken Jessie , Veldhuisen Barbera , van den Hurk Katja , van Dongen Anne , Koopman Maria M. W. , van Kraaij Marian G. J. , van der Schoot C. Ellen , Schonewille Henk , de Kort Wim L. A. M. , Janssen Mart P. 

TITLE=A Conceptual Framework for Optimizing Blood Matching Strategies: Balancing Patient Complications Against Total Costs Incurred

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2018.00199

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2018.00199

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p>Alloimmunization is currently the most frequent adverse blood transfusion event. Whilst completely matched donor blood would nullify the alloimmunization risk, this is practically infeasible. Current matching strategies therefore aim at matching a limited number of blood groups only, and have evolved over time by systematically including matching strategies for those blood groups for which (serious) alloimmunization complications most frequently occurred. An optimal matching strategy for controlling the risk of alloimmunization however, would balance alloimmunization complications and costs within the entire blood supply chain, whilst fulfilling all practical requirements and limitations. In this article the outline of an integrated blood management model is described and various potential challenges and prospects foreseen with the development of such a model are discussed.</p>