62 Chapter 2 Historical RBC trends Trend/Theme Drivers/Factors Definition Example quote Future RBC demand will stabilize as is Lowest point This sub-code describes how RBC demand is perceived to stabilize as is in the future due to its current lowered transfusion threshold or not foreseeing how demand could increase/decrease further. And the whole transfusion, you know, transfusing patients--I think that they’re at their lowest point. I don’t see how they could let people carry on with their lower hemoglobin. Innovations with unspecified/ uncertain effect This code describes various innovations that were perceived to have an effect on RBC demand, although it was not known or clear to the experts what specific effect the innovations would have upon RBC demand. Like in a blood donation, there’s a long tradition, culture, and it takes a long time to change, and then it might be different epidemiological situations, there might be different structure in the healthcare, and that should be taken into account when applying. But based on my knowledge, perhaps this in 10, 15 years’ time frame, I don’t think that we will have yet a kind of a high technology based blood as a main strain. It looks quite promising, and it is possible to make, but it’s so expensive. I mean, technology is moving fast, and as we know from what are genetic testing that it will change, but it will take still some time. How red cells interact with clotting system This sub-code describes how improved knowledge of how red cells interact with the clotting system could contribute to an effect on RBC demand. Can we understand how red blood cells work, and will that help the blood bank too in their thinking of the use of red blood cell s in certain types of diseases? So that’s something that’s still wishful thinking, so it’s still something to work on. But that’s the long goal of that part of the research. That’s where we’re trying to go.
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