Platelet production planning to ensure availability while minimizing outdating.

Steps were undertaken to reduce platelet concentrate outdating while maintaining the ability to provide them to hospitals as needed. A brief daily information exchange was established with the purpose of determining a platelet concentrate production goal for each weekday. This procedure has resulted in the ability to meet 100 percent of the hospital demand while reducing platelet concentrate outdating from greater than 20 percent to 2.95 percent over a 6-month period. When considering the 4 months when all platelet concentrates had 5-day expiration dates, the outdating rate was 2.57 percent. The significant reduction in outdating brought about by our procedure can result in substantial economic savings for a regional blood supplier.