Association of blood donor characteristics with hemoglobin content in leukoreduced packed red blood cells

A complex relationship exists between donor characteristics and red blood cell quality which remains partly explored. The present study aimed to determine the correlation of donor characteristics with the hemoglobin (Hb) content of leukoreduced packed red blood cells (PRBC).

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 blood donors. A pre-donation sample was collected for hemoglobin and hematocrit estimation. Whole blood was collected in quintuple blood bags and packed red cells were prepared. Sample from each packed red cell unit was estimated for hemoglobin and hematocrit. The volume, total Hb, actual total Hb, volume and Hb lost during processing, mathematical total Hb and hematocrit of each PRBC unit was calculated using formulas. The donor characteristics were analysed for correlation with Hb content of PRBC.

The mean age of the 100 donors enrolled in the study was 36.3 ± 9.9 years. Majority of the donors were vegetarian, non-alcoholic, non-smokers, and had a pre-donation hemoglobin level of more than 14 g/dl. The mean pre-donation Hb of the donors was 14.8 ± 1.5 g/dl. There was a strong positive correlation of donor pre-donation hemoglobin with total Hb (r = 1.000, p = 0.000), actual Hb (r = 0.518, p = 0.000) and mathematical hemoglobin (r = 0.951, p = 0.000) using the Pearson correlation test. A strong positive correlation was observed between the total and actual hemoglobin (r = 0.518, p = 0.000) of the units. There was no association of other donor characteristics with Hb content of leukoreduced PRBC.

Donor pre-donation hemoglobin showed a strong positive correlation with the actual hemoglobin content of leukoreduced packed red blood cells.