Present condition and problems of the blood transfusion system in Yamanashi Prefecture

In order to investigate the condition and problems of transfusion inspection in Yamanashi Prefecture, a "transfusion operating questionnaire" was carried out. The questionnaire was sent to 30 top hospitals that use many blood components, and we received a reply from 28 hospitals. The blood-transfusion system was unified in 25 hospitals (89.3%). The blood-transfusion therapy commission added 1 hospital with the same function, and it was established in 24 hospitals (85.7%). However, the blood-transfusion therapy commission was only held 6 times or more per year in only 9 hospitals (37.5%). Although doctors responsible for transfusion were appointed in 20 hospitals (71.4%), only 1 hospital appointed full-time doctors. A full-time medical technologist responsible for transfusion was only available in 5 hospitals (17.9%). The activity of the Yamanashi Prefecture joint blood-transfusion therapy commission founded in 2005 is indispensable for the promotion of "safe and proper" blood-transfusion therapy.