Recommendations of the task force on record-keeping and blood distribution systems.

The objectives of an automated donor record system are reviewed and recommendations as to file content and structure of a computer-based system are outlined. Four sections are suggested, data related to donor identification, demography, date of last donation and special services requirements. Alternative means of data entry and donor-donation links are discussed as well as desirable capabilities of unit record and patient record systems. Two types of blood distribution systems are outlined, namely the reactive type where hospital blood bank inventories are replenished on demand and the predictive type where inventory requirements are predicted in advance and inventories are replenished on a fixed, previously agreed on schedule.