Sixty percent of Hawaii residents will need a blood transfusion at some time in our lives. The need for blood reaches across every segment of our population. Transfusions are required by emergency and trauma patients (20 percent), heart patients (15 percent), cancer patients (11 percent), general surgery (18 percent) and general medical patients (38 percent).

Despite the need, only 2 percent of the population ever donates blood. Reasons for not donating blood include time restraints, fear of needles and poor health. Reasons aside, as our population grows and ages, the burden on Hawaii’s blood inventory is expected to increase.

To meet ongoing demand, the Blood Bank of Hawaii attempts to collect about 200 pints of blood each day. It is then distributed throughout the 17 civilian hospitals in the state. Most of these are on Oahu, where 82 percent of all transfusions occur.

Once each unit of blood is collected, it is separated into three components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. According to Wendy Abe, vice president of the Blood Bank of Hawaii, "A single blood donation can help save the lives of up to three people."

The Blood Bank of Hawaii estimates that the cost per unit of blood collected is roughly $300. This includes the resources required to organize statewide blood drives, collection on all islands, the cost to test the donated blood, manage the distribution and returns, and ensure the safety and quality of facilities, processes and products.

Ever since the outbreak of HIV, the costs associated with blood safety have increased in Hawaii and nationwide. Today, 13 different tests are administered to screen for possible transfusion-transmitted diseases, such as hepatitis, HIV, syphilis, West Nile virus and Chagas’ disease.

Research continues in an effort to develop a synthetic alternative to natural blood that may be used in some circumstances. Unfortunately, hemoglobin-based blood substitutes have not yet been perfected and are not approved for use by the FDA.

The reality is that unless and until a safe synthetic alternative is available, the majority of the population who need blood will continue to depend on the generous minority who give it.