The availability of blood and blood products, especially platelets, in many medical facilities may vary from common critical shortages to an occasional difficulty in obtaining needed blood components. Overall availability raises many questions. These questions range from the effectiveness of the blood center to recruit and maintain the steady state of blood donors to increasing utilization and management at the local medical facility. Communication, mutual understanding and education between the blood center and the medical facility are understandably essential. In this audioconference, inventory management and emergency release of blood and blood products will be discussed from the hospital perspective.