Transfusion Practices in the 1990s

Transfusion practice in the 1990s is expected to continue the trend established in the 1980s toward assuring appropriate use of transfusion therapy. Autologous blood collection is expected to increase further, and pharmacologic agents that promote hemostasis or cell production will be integrated into ongoing efforts to reduce homologous blood usage. Although the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases should continue to decrease, procedures to inactivate viruses in cellular blood components will be evaluated and artificial oxygen-carrying components may become available.