[Ferritin concentration in serum in health adults. Significance for blood donation]

Serum ferritin levels were measured in 613 women and 376 men included in our Blood Donor Registry in 1990, prior to their first donation. The mean serum ferritin was 34 micrograms/l in females and 98 micrograms/l in males. For men less than 20 years of age mean serum ferritin was 52 micrograms/l which is significantly lower than for the other age groups. For women greater than or equal to 50 years of age mean serum ferritin was 61 micrograms/l, which is significantly higher than for the younger age groups. In 22% of the women and 1.3% of the men serum ferritin was less than 15 micrograms/l upon registration. Female blood donors with an initial serum ferritin of less than 10 micrograms/l had donated on average 1.2 times 11 to 23 months later, and 56% were temporarily or permanently deferred from donation. Females with an initial serum ferritin of between 30 and 39 micrograms/l had donated 2.5 times, and 26% were deferred.