Prior attempts to account for the cost of blood have varied in economic perspective, methodology, and scope and may have underestimated both direct and indirect costs associated with transfusions. To devise a comprehensive and standardized methodology for the United States that will improve upon existing estimates, a panel of experts in blood banking and transfusion medicine was assembled and participated in consensus deliberations using modified Delphi methods. As a first step, a process-flow model that describes all the major steps involved in collecting, processing, and transfusing blood such as donor recruitment and follow-up of transfusion sequelae was constructed. Next, interdependencies were outlined and detailed cost elements within each step were itemized. The relative importance of each element was rated. Personnel, screening for infectious agents, information systems, laboratory evaluations, management of transfusion reactions, and equipment were ranked as the most important factors to capture but, in an effort to be all-inclusive, even minor elements were included. This consensus model is broad-based and should serve societal, provider, and payer perspectives for future cost studies. Recognizing the limitations of process-flow models, the next iteration will use an activity-based approach to more fully account for the cost of blood than present estimates.

中文翻译：

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血液成本：标准方法的多学科共识会议。

先前考虑血液成本的尝试在经济角度，方法和范围方面有所不同，并且可能低估了与输血相关的直接和间接成本。为了为美国设计一种全面，标准化的方法，以改进现有的估算方法，成立了血液库和输血医学专家小组，并参加了使用改进的Delphi方法进行的共识性讨论。作为第一步，构建了一个流程模型，该模型描述了收集，处理和输血所涉及的所有主要步骤，例如供体募集和输血后遗症的随访。接下来，概述了相互依赖性，并逐项列出了每个步骤中的详细成本要素。评估了每个要素的相对重要性。人员，筛查传染性病原体，信息系统，实验室评估，输血反应管理和设备被列为最重要的捕获因素，但为了做到包罗万象，甚至包括很小的因素。这种共识模型具有广泛的基础，并应为未来成本研究提供社会，提供者和付款人的观点。认识到流程模型的局限性，下一次迭代将使用基于活动的方法来比当前估计更全面地考虑血液成本。和付款人对未来成本研究的看法。认识到流程模型的局限性，下一次迭代将使用基于活动的方法来比当前估计更全面地考虑血液成本。和付款人对未来成本研究的看法。认识到流程模型的局限性，下一次迭代将使用基于活动的方法来比当前估计更全面地考虑血液成本。