Selecting the Right Donors - Still a Challenge: Development of a Uniform Donor Questionnaire in Germany

Area of Science:

• Transfusion Medicine
• Public Health
• Hematology

Background:

• Donor questionnaires (DQs) are crucial for blood safety, assessing donor health and medical history to mitigate risks.
• Current DQs in Germany contribute significantly to the safety of blood components.
• International donor selection practices offer valuable insights into potential challenges and improvements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the development of a new, uniform donor questionnaire for Germany.
• To present the initial evaluation of this new DQ using a field test approach.
• To contextualize these developments within global donor selection strategies and future considerations.

Main Methods:

• Review of international experiences in donor selection.
• Development of a new, uniform donor questionnaire for Germany.
• Field testing and evaluation of the new questionnaire.

Main Results:

• A new uniform donor questionnaire has been developed for Germany.
• Initial field testing provides preliminary data on the questionnaire's performance.
• The development process considered international best practices and challenges.

Conclusions:

• The new uniform DQ represents a step towards standardized and enhanced blood donor screening in Germany.
• Further evaluation and implementation are necessary to fully assess its impact on blood safety.
• International collaboration and adaptation of global strategies are key to addressing future challenges in blood donor selection.