The deferred donor

Donor selection criteria are an important step in ensuring both the safety of blood products and the well‐being of donors. In the absence of adequate testing for HIV and HCV in the 1980s, donor selection criteria were implemented to increase the safety of blood products. Donor selection criteria continue to have the advantage of rapid implementation in case of emerging infectious diseases. With the development of sensitive screening tests for HIV, HBV and HCV and with changes in the level of certain risks over time, a revision of some of the donor selection criteria may be necessary. Recent studies revealed that deferred donors are less likely to return for a subsequent donation. Strategies to rapidly rerecruit deferred donors once eligible appear to limit the loss of donors. Efforts to prevent deferral of the donor at the collection site can also be made. Educating donors about the current donor selection criteria and providing donors with tools (e.g. online self‐tests) to facilitate self‐deferral both contribute to lower deferral at the collection site. In addition, as a low haemoglobin level is a frequent reason for donor deferral, interventions should be developed to reduce the proportion of donors in this category.
Source: ISBT Science Series - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: Congress Review Source Type: research