Blood Unit Discard Rates Due to Transfusion–Transmissible Infections and Non‐Infectious Causes and Their Associated Factors in Eastern and Northeastern Parts of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cross‐Sectional Study From 2022–2025

ABSTRACT Background Blood is an irreplaceable medical resource, yet blood unit discard remains a significant challenge for transfusion services. This study aimed to evaluate discard rates by integrating both infectious (TTI) and non‐infectious causes and identifying factors associated with blood wastage to provide evidence to support strategies for improving blood safety. Methods An institutional‐based retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted using data from 2022 to 2025 across Dessie, Kemise, Woldia, and Sekota Blood Banks. Data were extracted from Blood Bank databases using a structured checklist and analyzed with SPSS version 26.0. Both univariable and Multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify predictors of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) and non‐infectious causes, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results Records from 60,008 donors and 67,976 blood products were reviewed. A total of 6,130 units (9.02%) were discarded. TTIs accounted for 4.6% of discards, led by Hepatitis B virus (2.0%) and Syphilis (1.2%). Non‐infectious causes contributed 4.4%, primarily due to expiration (2.0%). ABO group, Rh factor, donor age, donor type, collection site, and Blood Bank location were identified as significant predictors of discard. Conclusion The study reveals a notable blood unit discard rate of 9.02%, driven equally by infectious transfusion‐transmissible infections and non‐infectious factors like expiration. Key risk factors include donor demographics, blood group, and specific blood bank locations, highlighting the need for better inventory management and targeted donor selection.