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[Screening for increased cholesterol values in blood donors]
Objective:
In a pilot study blood donors were screened on HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol. The practicability and significance of such a screening in a blood bank should be tested.
Design:
For this purpose, current methods to determine HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol were adapted on microtiter plates and validated. In a period of about 4 weeks all blood donors were tested for the three cholesterol parameters.
Setting:
Red Cross blood bank in Baden-Baden, Germany with about 150,000 donations per year.
Participants:
The HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol results of 10,006 blood donors could be evaluated.
Interventions:
None.
Results:
The mean total cholesterol was 192 +/- 36 mg/dl, the mean HDL cholesterol 56 +/- 15 mg/dl, and a mean LDL cholesterol of 123 +/- 39 mg/dl was found. The known age-dependency of the measured cholesterol fractions could be confirmed in our blood donor population. According to the current recommendations, more than 20% of the tested blood donors need a therapy.
Conclusions:
The study shows that the screening of blood donors for increased total cholesterol for prevention of coronary heart disease could be done with a minimum of costs.