That is probably why FDA officials have expressed concerns about efforts to phase out vinyl. Alternatives are also more costly, which means switching will contribute to spiraling health care costs. As with any price hike, the people least able to absorb these costs will be the poor. In places like Africa, which is struggling to pay steep health care costs necessary to treat AIDS and malaria, such costs become a matter of life and death. For the storage of red blood cells, there isn't even a reasonable alternative to vinyl.
Blood lasts twice as long in vinyl than in alternative containers.
In a time of growing national blood shortages, a discussion of phasing out vinyl blood bags is worse than irresponsible. They should heed their own advice. Return to October 2000 contents .