[Erythrocyte concentrate instead of whole blood: perspectives for blood banks and clinical therapy].

In 1974 some 117 000 units of blood were collected by the German Red Cross Blood Center in Ulm. Some 65 000 units were distributed to hospitals, mainly as whole blood. The surplus blood units (44%) were used for the preparation of plasma products. On 1 October 1974 glass bottles were replaced by plastic blood bags. The same date was chosen for the introduction of buffycoatfree red cell concentrates. It proved possible to replace whole blood almost entirely (92% of all blood units) by red cell concentrates within a few days after the deadline. The factors which prompted the clinicians to follow this new policy are described, and the clinical and economic implications are discussed.