Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood transfusion systems: International review and the Moroccan blood transfusion system experience

Introduction: Transfusion systems worldwide have had to face many challenges against the emergence or the re-emergence of numerous infectious diseases. Some of those viruses have posed significant impacts on blood transfusion activities. Several scientific and transfusion experts consider the current COVID-19 pandemic to present a potential risk of reducing and compromising the supply of blood products. Blood establishments had to activate their emergency plans and to propose appropriate response measures. Method: It is an international review where we used key terms search strategy to identify necessary information about: (i) the impact of some previous emergent viruses on the availability and the safety of blood products and (ii) the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the blood transfusion activities worldwide. Additionally, we presented the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Moroccan transfusion system activities and the measures established by the Moroccan National Centre of Blood Transfusion and Hematology (MNCBTH) to ensure management of this health crisis on the availability and the safety of blood products in Morocco. Results: Viruses like Zika, Influenza A (H1N1), Chikungunya, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and Ebola have been of great concern in terms of virulence, modes of transmission, and impact on blood transfusion activities. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the availability of blood products in blood establishments worldwide. In Morocco, the COVID-19 pandemic affected blood collections and caused a significant decrease in the number of blood donors nationally. Data provided from all regional blood transfusion centers and blood banks in Morocco show that the total number of blood donations made in 2020 was 297,841 blood donations nationally compared to 334,510 blood donations made in 2019, with a decrease of 36,669 blood donations. The number of LBP produced in 2020 was 455,805 units compared to 695,974 units produced in 2019, which corresponds to a reduction of 57,654 units. The number of Labile Blood Products (LBP) delivered in 2020 is 455,805 units against 451,736 delivered in 2019, with an increase of 4069 units. The pandemic impacted other activities of the blood transfusion system in Morocco like continuing education programs, meeting activities, technical missions, and the Moroccan plasma removal for the fractionation. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on blood transfusion activities worldwide. The MNCBTH has expressed continued adaptability to ensure proper management of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the availability and safety of blood products in Morocco.