Lansing Red Cross has notified hospitals in our region that, due to increased demands for Platelet Pheresis, they are having difficulty producing the number of Pheresis units requested.

Therefore, in addition to continuing production of Platelet Pheresis, Lansing will produce and maintain a supply of Platelet Concentrate units to fill the gap until the shortage eases.

Although the Platelet transfusion rate in BCHS is at 150% of our use at this time  last year, we have been able to acquire Platelet Pheresis units to meet transfusion needs more than 99% of the time since the conversion to Platelet Pheresis in January of this year.  Should ARC not have the Platelet Pheresis products needed to meet transfusion needs, we will supply pooled Platelet Concentrate units to fill physician orders with minimal or no delay.