In Karnataka, an average of 735 units of donated blood are discarded each week, totaling approximately 38,294 units annually, despite a 5% increase in blood donations from 2022-23 to 2025-26. The Karnataka State Blood Transfusion Council (KSBTC) attributes this wastage to several factors, including the short shelf life of blood components, particularly platelets, which last only five days. Additionally, 0.2% to 0.7% of blood units are discarded due to infections such as HIV and hepatitis. Although the discard rate has improved from 3.99% to 3.7%, experts believe better inventory management and practices could further reduce waste. The World Health Organization (WHO) allows a discard rate of up to 5%, emphasizing the importance of proper temperature control and clinical usage of blood components. In response to these challenges, the health department has mandated that all blood banks in Karnataka obtain NABH accreditation to improve quality and reduce wastage. Dr. Latha Jagannathan, a medical director at Bangalore Medical Services Trust, stresses the importance of maintaining thorough documentation and quality processes in blood banks.