The 2007 Inventory Practice Survey was similar to the 2004 survey.  It was designed to explore the impact of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations on the 'Cold Chain' and determine changes in practice.

New sections in this survey included alarm monitoring and calibration.  The seven sections were:

• About your fridges
• About your alarms
• About your alarm monitoring
• About your temperature recording system monitoring
• Calibrating your alarm monitoring system
• About your remote fridges
• About the maintenance and service of your fridges and alarms

The aim of the 2006 survey was to revisit some of the previously surveyed areas of blood supply management so that we can identify changes that have occurred to both practice and opinion.

The report addresses the following questions:

• How long are units allocated for?
• How do you order blood?
• Do you crossmatch in advance?
• Do you share stock with other hospitals?
• Do you have clinical transfusion training?
• Who's doing cell salvage?
• How have things changed?

Participants were surveyed on number and type of blood fridges and their associated alarms.

• Breakdown of fridges by type and location (including remote fridges)
• Returning cross-matched and flying squad units back to stock
• Alarm testing
• Maintenance and service, details and satisfaction

Selected participants were surveyed on aspects of their laboratory's working practices.

• Current laboratory practices
• Changes to laboratory working practices
• Current Staffing
• Training

Selected participants were surveyed on the their use of platelets.

• Platelet ordering
• Use of HLA matched platelets
• Platelet storage
• Platelet stocks
• Training in use of platelets

Selected participants were surveyed on the their level of mismatching.

• The reasons for mismatching
• The level of mismatching for both donor groups and patient groups

Selected participants were surveyed on how they make the most of being in the BSMS.

• Using the BSMS
• Inventory Management
• Crossmatching Practice

Information was collected from selected participants.

• Reserved stock
• Red cell ordering
• Staffing and training
• Maximum Blood Order Schedule (MSBOS)
• Allocated Stock

The information gathered on red cell ordering was further analysed.

• Reservation period and stock holding
• Accounting for units returned to stock
• Personnel undertaking stock ordering
• Use of SOPs