Can anyone refer me to any articles regarding the national average of direct and indirect (type, screen, crossmatch, etc.) cost of blood?

Hi Marcia from Australia!!

here is a link to an an article from last year on estimating the cost of blood.

Estimating the cost of blood: past, present, and future directions

Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology

Volume 21, Issue 2, June 2007, Pages 271-289

Aryeh Shander MD, FCCP, FCCM , Chief, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Medical Director, New Jersey Institute for the Advancement of Bloodless Medicine and Surgery, Axel Hofmann ME, Hans Gombotz MD, Chief, Oliver M. Theusinger MD, PhD, Research Associate and Donat R. Spahn MD, FRCA, Professor and Chairman

I heard Axel Hoffman present his costings from this paper last week - he is currently out here in Australia - very comprhensive analysis on all the costs associated with blood transfusion.

Thanks for the article!

Marcia