Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability
Published on: April 28, 2022
The value of routine ferritin measurement in blood donors
Alix O'Meara1, Laura Infanti, Christine Stebler
1Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. aomeara@uhbs.ch
Background:
Iron store deficiency is a common side effect of whole blood donation. Early recognition and reversal of excessive iron loss may avoid symptomatic iron store depletion in blood donors and reduce volunteer loss due to iron deficiency (ID) anemia.
Study Design And Methods:
Between 1996 and 2009, a total of 160,612 visits with the intention to donate blood by 23,557 healthy volunteers were recorded at our center. As of 2004, routine serum ferritin testing and additional counseling of donors at risk for donation-induced anemia were implemented. We analyzed the impact of this measure on the hemoglobin (Hb) levels and anemia occurrence in our donor population and in particular in women of childbearing age. Donation rejections due to low Hb counts, the intervals to next donation, and return rates thereafter were also assessed.
Results:
The introduction of routine serum ferritin analysis resulted in an increase of mean Hb levels in blood donors particularly in women of childbearing age. The incidence of predonation anemia and donation ineligibility due to a low Hb concentration decreased significantly. The return intervals of donors rejected on account of low Hb levels were shortened; however, the return rates thereafter were also curtailed.
Conclusions:
Systematic serum ferritin measurements allowed an optimized management of ID in our donors and efficacious prevention of ID anemia.
