EVALUATION OF TURNAROUND TIME FOR ISSUING BLOOD COMPONENTS ON EMERGENCY REQUESTS AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL – AN SYSTEMATIC STUDY

Raja Kumar N., Ruth Jenila A.*

ABSTRACT

Blood transfusion played a vital role in modern healthcare, particularly in emergency and surgical settings where timely availability of compatible blood significantly influenced patient outcomes. This study evaluated the turnaround time for issuing blood and blood components in a tertiary care medical college and identified factors contributing to delays to establish a benchmark for improving transfusion service efficiency. The study assessed the workflow involved in transfusion services by analysing the time interval between receipt of transfusion requests or samples and the issue of compatible blood units. Different stages of the process, including pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases, were examined to determine sources of delay. Special attention was given to compatibility testing procedures and operational practices within the blood bank. The findings showed that turnaround time was affected by multiple factors such as sample handling, transportation delays, compatibility testing procedures, manpower availability, and inappropriate or excessive requisition of blood components. Variations in turnaround time were observed across clinical scenarios, with emergency cases requiring shorter processing times. Inefficiencies in workflow and suboptimal resource utilization were identified as major contributors to delays. The study concluded that turnaround time served as an important indicator of quality in transfusion services and had a direct impact on patient safety and healthcare delivery. Continuous monitoring and targeted interventions, including process optimization, staff training, and standardized protocols, were essential to improve efficiency, reduce delays, and enhance patient care outcomes.

Keywords: Blood transfusion, Turnaround time, Transfusion services, Compatibility testing, Blood bank workflow, Quality indicators.