ANALYSIS OF BLOOD DONOR DEFERRAL PATTERN AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Safety of blood and blood products is a major problem all over the world screening for the markers of infectious diseases alone is an incomplete solution. One of the most important steps in improving the safety is donor selection donors who do not meet selection criteria are deferred either temporarily or permanently in view of both donor and recipient safety. AIMS: To analyse blood donor deferral pattern in our tertiary care blood center. Methods: Data of blood donor deferral were evaluated retrospectively from January 2020 to April 2021 in Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion. Donor selection and deferral was done as per national guidelines. RESULTS: Out of 13042 blood donors came to donate in our blood bank 7.71% (1006) were deferred Out of 1006, 67.29% (677) were temporarily deferred whereas 32.70% (329) were permanently deferred. The deferral rate for females and males was 0.96 % (126) and 6.74% (880) respectively. The most common cause for deferral was due to low hemoglobin 25.70% (174) and followed by hypertensive donors 50.76% (167).Other causes for deferral was donor on medications 19.94%(135), failed phlebotomy 9.89%(66), low blood pressure 7.09%(48),tattoo 6.49% (44),skin lesions at phlebotomy site 5.31% (36), Major surgery 4.13%(28), vaccination 3.98% (27), cough and cold 3.54%(24), under weight 3.39% (23), Minor surgery 1.47% (10), Menstruation 1.47% (10), Typhoid 1.18% (08), underage 1.18% (08), High Risk Behavior 2.43% (08), Dengue 0.73%, Asthma 0.30%, Malaria 0.44%, Diarrhea 0.29%, smoking 0.14%, Abortion 0.14%. CONCLUSIONS: In this study temporary deferral was most common. Females were deferred more common than male. Most common deferral reason is low hemoglobin. Temporary differed donors require proper follow up and management so as not to lead diminished supply of future donors.