{"id":653107,"date":"2026-08-24T01:42:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T01:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/653107\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T01:42:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T01:42:36","slug":"blood-transfusion-security-with-biskit-in-sub-saharan-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/653107\/","title":{"rendered":"Blood Transfusion Security with BISKIT in Sub-Saharan Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

BERLIN, Germany \u2014 In emergency situations, a blood transfusion is often the only way to save a patient\u2019s life. The lack of an adequate blood supply is one of the greatest global challenges facing health care systems in low-income countries. Due to rising demand, the situation is expected to become even more critical. A study published in Lancet Haematology notes that 10 to 20 blood donations per 1,000<\/a> residents are needed to meet global demand.<\/p>\n

Modern technological solutions can overcome infrastructure barriers and reduce costs by ensuring blood transfusion security in affected areas during times of crisis. The mobile-based platform known as the Blood Information System for Crisis Intervention and Management (BISKIT) aims to ensure the quality of blood donations and optimize supply chains to strengthen the region\u2019s blood supply.<\/p>\n

Blood Transfusion Security in Africa<\/p>\n

Countries with a high number of people living in extreme poverty are disproportionately affected by rising demand and the resulting supply shortages. Young children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, are driving up mortality rates, which also leads to high health care costs at the national level. The quantity of blood donations<\/a> collected in Africa falls far short of the estimated need. The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded a median of only about five donations per 1,000 people<\/a> in low-income countries, compared with 31.5 per 1,000 in high-income countries.<\/p>\n

The sub-Saharan region accounts for the highest number of maternal and child deaths worldwide. WHO estimates that approximately 178,000 mothers and one million newborns die in Africa each year; the region accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths<\/a>. Patients in the region predominantly suffer from severe anemia or perinatal hemorrhage\u2014that is, heavy bleeding during childbirth. In most cases, children and women were unable to receive the life-saving treatment due to a lack of proper blood transfusion security.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlood Desert\u201d<\/p>\n

Blood, as a medical supply, is subject to very strict requirements. As living tissue, some of its components\u2014such as granulocytes or platelets\u2014can only be stored outside the body for a few days and only at constant temperatures. Even a slight change in temperature can cause transported blood to become unusable.<\/p>\n

In addition, blood donations require strict testing and safety measures that are costly. However, there is a lack of suitable cold-chain logistics in the region. Processing blood into its components\u2014such as concentrating red blood cells\u2014also significantly increases the success rate in treating critically ill patients, yet the necessary medical infrastructure with the appropriate equipment is missing.<\/p>\n

Sub-Saharan Africa suffers disproportionately from what is known as a \u201cblood desert\u201d\u2014predominantly rural areas without blood banks and with inadequate road infrastructure, where blood supply cannot be guaranteed due to a lack of timely and affordable access.<\/p>\n

An analysis published in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology found that only 380 accredited laboratories<\/a>\u00a0in sub-Saharan Africa met international standards. Thirty-seven of the region\u2019s 49 countries had no laboratories accredited to international quality standards. Furthermore, 91% of the laboratories were concentrated in South Africa.<\/p>\n

Decentralized Donation Systems<\/p>\n

Diseases such as human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV), hepatitis and syphilis are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, as two-thirds of the world\u2019s people living with HIV reside in this region. As the blood donation system is largely decentralized\u2014meaning that donations are often collected by family members at local hospitals\u2014the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections is higher.<\/p>\n

A meta-analysis by the University of Ghana found that approximately 10% of blood units<\/a> collected in sub-Saharan Africa carry the risk of a transfusion-transmitted infection. Based on data from 45 countries south of the Sahara, scientists using WHO data have calculated that the median overall risk of HIV infection is one per 1,000 units<\/a>, 4.3 for the hepatitis B virus and 2.5 for the hepatitis C virus.<\/p>\n

Cost-Effective Blood Transfusion Security<\/p>\n

To manage and monitor the blood supply quickly and cost-effectively, eHealth Africa, in collaboration with the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, has developed a blood supply system that enables health care professionals in sub-Saharan Africa to collect, manage and access reliable data on donors.<\/p>\n

BISKIT operates on the following basis:<\/p>\n