Strengthening the blood supply: Rebuilding morale and retention in a strained laboratory workforce

In the United States, approximately 90% of the population will need donated blood or blood components at some point in their lives. Blood transfusions are an essential part of health care. They can provide lifesaving care to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer; living with chronic conditions, such as sickle cell disease; or experiencing acute trauma, such as a hemorrhage following a car crash. Obstetrics, pediatrics, hematology, oncology, emergency medicine and surgery all depend on blood transfusions, so any shortage of available blood can have far-reaching consequences.

We are reaching a critical point in our ability to supply blood to the people who need it most. Shortages of available blood due to a lack of donations, along with a growing trend of laboratory staff burnout and position vacancies, can threaten the industry’s ability to provide safe, reliable blood to patients.

Factors affecting the nation’s blood supply

Blood donations rely on people. There is currently no other source of blood or synthetic substitute that can assist people in need of transfusions. Unfortunately, less than 3% of the eligible population in the U.S. donates blood. The blood supply system relies on collaboration among several organizations and facilities to ensure that blood is available where and when it’s needed. In situations such as natural disasters or emergencies, the demand for blood in a specific area can increase drastically, so the system needs to be flexible and agile. This also means that if a particular area is facing a blood shortage, resources from other regions can be reallocated to fill the gap. But the overall lack of available blood is putting more and more strain on this carefully balanced system.

Another factor affecting transfusion medicine, particularly in clinical laboratories, is staffing shortages. This issue is not unique to transfusion medicine. Across the health care industry, increased work demands, coupled with reduced staff and budgets, are straining an already overworked workforce. Only about one in eight lab technologists say they expect to stay in diagnostics, according to a 2024 QuidelOrtho report, which points to low pay, exhausting schedules, high stress and limited professional recognition as significant sources of dissatisfaction and burnout. These conditions can erode team morale and shrink the workforce. Over time, that erosion makes it even harder for the field to recruit and retain new talent. This can perpetuate a cycle that only leads to more burnout and turnover, exacerbating the problem.

What shortages mean for patients

Simply put, the lack of available blood and staffing shortages can put patients at risk. For example, patients with inherited disorders who need frequent transfusions, like sickle cell disease or thalassemia, as well as patients with conditions like liver disease or kidney disease, require frequent blood transfusions. But these patients may have to wait longer to receive their treatment if patients with acute traumatic injuries need blood too and there is not enough blood available. The majority of platelet donations are used to help people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, because treatment can damage a patient’s bone marrow and decrease the ability to produce platelets, increasing the risk of severe bleeding. But these patients may also need to wait longer to receive the care they need, without enough donated blood and blood components. There is no replacement for human blood, so we must take measures to help transfusion medicine continue to provide lifesaving support for all patients.

Addressing shortages to build a more resilient blood supply

Several ideas have been proposed to reduce the burden of the blood supply shortage, such as drone-delivered blood and civilian walking blood banks, in which volunteers within communities are ready and able to donate blood at short notice, so rural areas don’t have to rely solely on central blood storage facilities. Other ideas include intraoperative autotransfusion, where a patient’s own blood is recirculated during medical procedures, eliminating the need for additional blood. These ideas all come with their own set of logistical challenges and may not be ready for large-scale implementation. Still, there are steps we can take immediately to reduce staffing shortages.

One way to address staffing burnout is to expand the use of automated technology that streamlines demanding laboratory routines. By shifting activities such as antigen typing from manual work to automated analyzers, technologists gain time to focus on tasks that require clinical judgment, supporting faster turnaround times and helping reduce delays for patients awaiting critical results. Workflow-management tools and broader testing menus add another layer of efficiency, strengthening both productivity and the integrity of the blood supply.

Technology alone cannot improve morale and staffing shortages. In the same 2024 QuidelOrtho report, many laboratory professionals report that simply receiving more acknowledgment for their contributions would significantly improve their daily experience, making recognition a powerful lever for retention. Additional strategies, including more effective training, clearer advancement pathways and improved recognition of the diagnostic profession, can reinforce staff engagement.

Health care leaders, physicians, other clinicians and laboratory staff all share a purpose rooted in service, scientific excellence and patient well-being. Because those who rely on transfusions depend on a steady, safe blood supply, supporting the people who safeguard that system is essential.

Bryan Hanson is the senior vice president of clinical laboratory and transfusion medicine business units at QuidelOrtho.