Faculty Collaboration Database

A study of criteria for blood donor deferral. Transfusion 1980;20(5):511-8

Date

09/01/1980

Pubmed ID

7423590

DOI

10.1046/j.1537-2995.1980.20581034503.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0019167776 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   71 Citations

Abstract

Donor deferral rates in regional blood centers vary from 5 to 24 per cent, reducing by more than 1,250,000 the number of units of volunteer blood available for transfusion in the nation each year. Those criteria for donor deferral which are intended to exclude donors likely to suffer a "donor reaction" are based partially on untested hypotheses and tradition. In a six-month prospective study, we adopted more liberal criteria for donor acceptance. During this period, donor reaction rates did not increase, and the deferral rate fell from 10 to 7 per cent. Our findings suggest that less restrictive criteria can be used for donor selection without compromising donor safety. If all blood centers reduced their deferral rates to 7 per cent, the nation's blood supply would be increased by more than 500,000 units annually.

Author List

Tomasulo PA, Anderson AJ, Paluso MB, Gutschenritter MA, Aster RH

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aging
Blood Donors
Blood Pressure
Blood Volume
Body Weight
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Time Factors