A review of predonation blood donor deferrals in a university hospital

To study the main causes of predonation deferral of potentially healthy prospective blood donors in a University Hospital Blood Bank unit, and to make recommendations accordingly.

A retrospective review of the main causes of predonation deferral of blood donors in King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU) Al-Khobar, was carried out. Records of all predonation deferrals from 1(st) January 1996 to 31(st) December 2003 were reviewed and analyzed.

A total of 33,900 potential blood donors came to donate blood during the study period. A total of 6508 donors (19.2%) were deferred for various reasons. Analysis of the causes of deferral showed the following as the most common reasons in rank order: (1) recent ingestion or taking of counter-indicative medications; (2) low hematocrit level; (3) underweight; (4) abnormally high pulse rate; (5) low blood pressure; (6) temperature above 37.5°C; (7) High blood pressure; (8) presenting for donation too soon i.e. less than 8 weeks after the previous one; (9) age below or above the accepted limit; (10) a previous serological positive result; (11) general appearance; (12) abnormally low pulse rate.

It is important to provide donors with a clear message on their deferral status. Increased public education about blood donation and the common causes of donor deferral may lower deferral rates and prevent a negative impact on the donor himself as well as on subsequent blood donations. Public education is needed also to help recruit as many volunteer donors as possible.