[Iron status in blood donors evaluated by serum ferritin]

In the present study we have examined serum ferritin in experienced male and female blood donors and in women who had never donated blood before, but had registered at the Blood Centre as future donors. There was no coincidence between low haemoglobin and low s-ferritin when haemoglobin was within normal range. Iron stores (s-ferritin less than 20 micrograms/l) were reduced in 40% of the female blood donors and in 21% the iron stores (s-ferritin less than 10 micrograms/l were completely empty. 10% of the male donors had iron stores, while in 3% the iron stores were empty. Among the females who had not donated blood, 30% had s-ferritin values below 20 micrograms/l and 6% had values below 10 micrograms/l. We conclude that measuring s-ferritin is a better method of identifying individuals at risk for iron depletion than measuring hemoglobins. A combination of longer intervals between donations and iron therapy may prevent depletion of iron stores in blood donors.