Safety Of Blood Supply Research Articles

Impact of iron supplementation among anemic voluntary first‐time blood donors: Results from the BLOODSAFE pilot trial in Ghana

AbstractIntroductionIn sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), an adequate supply of safe blood for transfusion is a major developmental challenge. In Ghana, deferral from blood donation for anemia accounts for nearly half of the ineligible blood donors. We conducted a longitudinal two‐arm parallel‐group non‐inferiority trial to test if iron supplementation among blood donors with iron deficiency (ID) or anemia could increase their hemoglobin levels to near those without ID or anemia.Materials and MethodsA structured questionnaire was used to collect participants' sociodemographic and medical information after written informed consent was obtained. Blood samples were analyzed for full blood count (FBC), serum ferritin, malaria rapid test, and a peripheral blood smear. The primary outcome was hemoglobin level after 4 months comparing anemic donors who received iron supplementation to the standard of care participants, nonanemic donors who did not receive iron supplementation. All donors received nutritional counseling.ResultsAdherence to low‐dose iron supplementation three times a week was poor. Hemoglobin levels in the iron supplementation arm were not close enough to those in the control group after 4 months of iron supplementation to declare non‐inferiority. However, non‐inferiority was met when the 4 month hemoglobin comparison was restricted to female donors.ConclusionAfter 4 months of iron supplementation, hemoglobin levels in the iron supplementation group did not sufficiently match those in the control group to declare non‐inferiority. Data from this pilot trial informed and shaped the design of a larger randomized control type 1 pragmatic effectiveness implementation hybrid trial which is currently ongoing.

The infected blood inquiry: Impact on public perceptions of blood supply risk, safety, and donation attitudes.

The UK's Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI) highlighted a major public health scandal, with at least 30 000 people infected and more than 3000 deaths attributable to infected blood and blood products. This study investigates the impact of the IBI announcement on May 20, 2024, on public perceptions of blood supply risk, safety, and donation intentions in the UK compared to the USA. A 2 (country: UK vs. USA) × 2 (time: pre-, post-IBI announcement) between-within-subject study was conducted with 1635 participants (888 UK, 747 USA). Pre-IBI data were collected from May 3 to 7, 2024, and post-IBI data from May 30 to June 30, 2024. Key measures were perceived infection risk from transfusion, transfusion safety, willingness to donate and encourage others. The impact was assessed using differences-in-differences (DiD) and reliable-change-indices (RCI). UK participants showed a significant but small decrease in perceived safety compared to USA participants, with 1 in 30 UK individuals perceiving a significant reduction in perceived transfusion safety. Decreases in perceived safety were associated with significant decreases in willingness to donate and encouragement of others in the whole sample and in USA participants and significant decreases in willingness to encourage others in UK participants. Older people reported a greater reduction in safety, and non-donors were more likely to be put off donating and not ask others to donate as a result of their perception that safety had been reduced. Overall, perceived safety decreased marginally in the UK general population. Future research should explore the long-term impacts of the IBI.

Blood donation practices, motivators and barriers in the Caribbean: A narrative review.

Adequacy and safety are the twin prerogatives of the blood transfusion service which in turn is an indispensable component of public health delivery; however, many Caribbean countries have inadequate blood supply for the current and projected demands of their health care systems. Understanding blood donor motivators and barriers is crucial to improving the rate of voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRD) to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) targets. The objective of this study was to review current research on the landscape of blood donation practices and attitudes in the Caribbean. We undertook a systematic search of electronic databases through September 2023 to identify studies of blood donation practices, knowledge and attitudes, including motivators and barriers to donation in the English-speaking Caribbean. We identified eight (8) relevant studies of observational study design. VNRD remain relatively uncommon; family replacement or remunerated donations were most common. Barriers to blood donation included lack of a known recipient such as a family member who needed blood, never having been asked to donate, presumed ineligibility to donate, and fear of needles or adverse reactions. Study participants indicated willingness to donate blood if provided more information about the importance of blood donation. There is a paucity of published research regarding blood donor knowledge, motivators and barriers in the Caribbean context. Such research could indicate the necessary interventions for achieving the goals of an adequate and safe blood supply.

Quality Culture - Lessons Learned from the Low- and Medium Income World

With the development of safe blood supply and transfusion comes the introduction of quality as a culture, implemented through the introduction of a Quality System (QS) and Quality Management System (QMS). Often the idea is that– ‘when instructions are written (SOPs) a quality system is in place. Just follow the instructions, that is it.’ However, quality only partly depends on following instructions at the operational level. Generally not understood is the importance of designing and implementing a quality management system, based on 5 key elements 1) organization and structure; 2) standards (technical and quality); 3) documentation - traceability and evidence; 4) education - continued teaching and training; 5) assessment - continued monitoring and evaluation. Development and implementation of an appropriate quality system and management were evaluated for 15 developing countries (2004-2020) in 4 WHO regions. Projects were based on a step-by-step introduction to the concept and principles of quality following a Quality Management Training (QMT) course – modular, interactive, with improvement score evaluation focused on comprehension and ownership of the teaching and training contents. For an optimal understanding of the values of quality in Transfusion Medicine (TM), a culture has to be created - ownership development, commitment to and implementation of the principles of fitness for purpose, and the supplier-producer-customer continuum.

Prevalence, incidence, and residual risk for human immunodeficiency virus among blood donors from 2003 to 2022 in Guangzhou, China.

China's significant population affected by HIV poses a substantial threat to blood transfusion safety. Despite advancements in blood testing techniques, a residual risk of HIV transmission persists. Accurately assessing HIV epidemic and the residual risk is vital for monitoring blood supply safety and evaluating the effectiveness of new screening tests. We conducted a retrospective analysis of HIV detection results among voluntary blood donors from 2003 to 2022. The study included data on HIV-confirmed positive donors, HIV prevalence, infection risk factors, and an incidence-window period mathematical model to estimate the residual risk of HIV. Between 2003 and 2022, HIV prevalence among blood donors in Guangzhou showed a peak-shaped trend, initially increasing before declining. The overall HIV prevalence was 18.9 infections per 100,000 donations. Male donors had a significantly higher prevalence compared with female donors. Donors aged 26-35 years had the highest prevalence. Ethnic minority donors had a higher prevalence compared with Han donors. Repeat donors had a lower prevalence compared with first-time donors. Donors from other provinces had a higher prevalence compared with local donors. During the period of 2003 to 2022, the residual risk of HIV in Guangzhou steadily decreased, reaching a notable 1 in 526,316 donations in the past two years. The HIV epidemic among blood donors in Guangzhou remains severe, but the residual risk of HIV is decreasing. Novel detection methods have proven advantageous in reducing this residual risk. Implementing additional effective measures is imperative to ensure blood safety and curb the spread of HIV.

Understanding Blood Donation Practices in Gilgit, Pakistan An Anthropological Perspective

Blood is widely recognized as an essential bodily fluid crucial for sustaining life, and blood donation plays a critical role in saving lives. Ensuring access to a safe and sufficient supply of blood and its derivatives and reliable blood transfusion services is indispensable for a strong healthcare system. It is important to note that voluntary non-remunerated blood donors are the most reliable source of safe blood supply. In Pakistan, 70% of donated blood comes from replacement or paid donations, while only 10% comes from voluntary donations. In Gilgit, voluntary blood donation is scarce, and most blood comes from replacements. The respondents display limited understanding of blood transfusion, while they exhibit a positive attitude toward voluntary blood donation despite low participation. This discrepancy is attributed to inadequate awareness and campaigns, as well as prevalent myths and negative perceptions associated with blood and blood donation. Furthermore, sectarian-based segregation, the symbolic relationships between the donor and recipient and the exclusion of female blood donors exacerbate the gap between blood supply and demand. The research emphasises culturally suited solutions and strategies that can help enhance voluntary blood donation in Gilgit.

Increased parvovirus B19 seropositivity in healthy blood donors in India

A core component of every blood program is the supply of safe blood and blood products. The elevated risk of transmission through these products is due to parvovirus B19 (B19V) resistance to the virus inactivation procedures. Our study aimed to screen asymptomatic blood donors for B19V at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, between September 2020 and June 2021. Sera from 106 healthy blood donors who tested negative for Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and malaria were tested for anti-B19V IgM and IgG using a qualitative indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the study population, 23.5% (n = 25) of donors tested IgM positive, 38.6% (n = 41) tested IgG positive, and 7.5% (n = 8) tested positive for both IgM and IgG. A proportion of 61.3% (n = 65) of the blood donors tested IgG negative, suggesting they had no past B19V infection. B19V DNA was not detected in any of the subjects. The high seroprevalence of IgM indicates that blood donors may have been recently exposed to B19V, potentially posing a risk to immunocompromised individuals and those with hematological stress. Further longitudinal studies with a larger sample size are recommended to better understand the risk of B19V transfusion transmission.

Response Patterns and Behavior of Seropositive Blood Donors: A Comprehensive Analysis.

Background Blood transfusion services are vital in healthcare, ensuring a steady and safe supply of blood for patients in need. Identifying seropositive blood donors and understanding their response patterns and behaviors are critical for improving the safety and efficacy of blood transfusion practices. Aim Our study aims to determine the response rate and pattern of blood donors who test reactive for transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) and to understand the attitudes of reactive blood donors toward post-donation notification, follow-up, and counseling. Materials and methods Our study is retrospective audit analyzing the data record for a period of 24 months from October 2021 to October 2023 in the transfusion medicine department of a tertiary care hospital in southern India. All donations were screened for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, malaria, and syphilis. Results Of the total 8,276 donations during the study period, 117 (1.41%) were reactive for various TTIs. The highest prevalence was hepatitis B (0.61%), followed by hepatitis C (0.38%), then HIV (0.22%) and syphilis (0.14%). Of all the TTI reactive donors, 82 donors (70%) responded after communication, and the remaining 30% could not be contacted by any mode of communication. The most common reason for non-communication was the fabricated postal address given by the donors. Of the donors approached, 57 (48.7%) reinstated to our blood bank for further counseling and specific treatment. The donor's busy schedule and out-of-city residence were the main reasons for non-compliance with the follow-up protocol. Conclusion Informing donors of their serological status and providing post-donation counseling are crucial elements of blood transfusion protocol. Necessary knowledge about TTIs are to be instilled to the donors during the blood collection procedure. Moreover, its crucial for the donor to provide accurate demographic details aiding follow up and easy access during times of managing blood inventory.

Understanding the Knowledge, Perceptions, and Attitudes of University Students Toward Blood Donation and the Turkish Red Crescent: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background The need for blood arising from illness, surgery, and accidents is met through donations. With global population growth, both non-governmental organizations and public institutions are vital for blood supply and distribution. The Turkish Red Crescent, a leading non-governmental organization in blood donation and humanitarian aid, excels in both national and international contexts, ensuring a safe blood supply and reinforcing social solidarity during crises. This study aims to determine the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of students from different departments at a public university in Turkey regarding blood donation and the Turkish Red Crescent. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study. The study population included 34,442 Ege University students, with the sample consisting of 385 students who continued their education online due to the February 6, 2023, earthquake in Turkey and voluntarily participated in the study. Data were collected via an online survey. Results The study found that 56.9% (219) of the participants were female, 30.9% (119) were in the second year, and 16.6% (64) were from the Faculty of Science. Overall, 89.6% (345) of the students held positive views on blood donation. Further, 64.4% (248) showed a positive inclination toward donating blood, and 76.8% (296) viewed it as a social responsibility. However, 70.4% (271) of the students had doubts about whether the blood will reach those in need, and 61.6% (237) were concerned about this issue. Additionally, women donated blood more than men with significant differences in some attitudes based on gender. Conclusions The research revealed that students defined blood donation as a good deed and an indicator of human solidarity. On the other hand, students lacked knowledge about the Turkish Red Crescent and were undecided in some of their opinions about the Turkish Red Crescent.

Seroprevalence of infectious markers HCV, HBV, HIV and the agent of syphilis among blood donors from the blood transfusion center (BTC of Constantine) in a hospital in eastern Algeria

Microbial agents transmitted by blood transfusion, HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis remain a major problem for transfusion safety. The objective of this study is to determine the seroprevalence of infectious markers in order to contribute to the improvement of the safe and sufficient supply of blood. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out at the BTC SMK laboratory in Constantine covering the period from January 2019 to December 2021. Our sample is mainly composed of voluntary, adult, young and male donors. 9155 donors who underwent a screening examination during the period (2019-2021). The seroprevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis was respectively 0.40%, 0.12%, 0%, 0.14%, with a male predominance whose age group [36-45 [ presents the highest frequency of HCV, HBV and syphilis. Our results justify donor selection and screening tests.

Epidemiological analysis of blood donors from college students in Hefei city.

College students represent a unique demographic group as they are adults no longer under direct parental care, yet often lack the institutional health support available to more established members of society, which can lead to their health needs being neglected, despite their substantial contributions to blood donation. The objective of this study is to shed light on the health status of college students in Hefei, with a specific focus on transfusion-transmitted diseases. Based on the detailed data analysis, the implementation of some constructive strategies will play a good warning role in improving clinical blood safety and promoting better health monitoring of this population in the future. The study aims to achieve two main objectives: On the one hand, to deepen our understanding of college students' participation in blood donation activities. On the other hand, to propose effective strategies for increasing youth involvement. Additionally, such research aims to afford recommendations for ensuring the safety of clinical blood supplies. Although the strategies and suggestions presented are speculative, they are grounded in the logical analysis of data and relevant theoretical frameworks. Therefore, these recommendations serve as a basis for potential future testing and implementation. The evaluation process for blood samples at the Hefei Blood Bank involves thorough serological testing for hepatitis B and C, HIV, and Treponema pallidum using both Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT). HIV reactive samples were further confirmed using Western Blot techniques at an external specialized laboratory. To ensure accuracy, each sample was tested with reagents from two different manufacturers. Moreover, any initially reactive sample was retested with the same reagent to eliminate potential false positives. In cases of conflicting results, alternative reagent kits are utilized for further confirmatory tests. Only samples that consistently show reactive results in consecutive tests are considered positive confirmation samples. Upon analysis of the data set, it was found that out of the total 663,105 donors, 177,089 (26.7%) were identified as college students, with the remaining 486,016 categorized as noncollege students. Our study demonstrated a notably lower prevalence of blood-transmitted infections among college students (0.48%) in contrast to the wider donor population (1.23%), underscoring their potential as safe blood donors. To uphold this level of safety and protect public health, it is crucial to increase disease prevention awareness and advocate for responsible donation practices within this specific demographic. Strengthening confidentiality protocols and expanding education on safe sexual behaviors in university settings are vital actions to cultivate an environment that promotes informed and secure blood donation. The overall group had prevalence rates of 0.44% for hepatitis B, 0.15% for hepatitis C, 0.02% for HIV, and 0.42% for Treponema pallidum. When focusing on the student cohort, the prevalence rates were 0.17% for hepatitis B, 0.04% for hepatitis C, 0.02% for HIV, and 0.23% for Treponema pallidum. Transmissibility through blood transfusion All donors (%) Students (%) Non-students (%) Any infection 1.23 0.48 1.51 HbsAg 0.44 0.17 0.54 Anti-HCV 0.15 0.04 0.19 HIV Ag/Ab 0.02 0.02 0.02 Anti-TP 0.42 0.23 0.49 Individuals with two or more infectious agents occur more than once in all categories. While it leads to numerical over-representation, such overlap is minimal and statistically insignificant.

Exploring the determinants of risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors in Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar.

Blood donation is vital to healthcare, but it must be kept safe by mitigating the risk of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs). The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors at Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar. This study utilized a cross-sectional study design using secondary data. Mandalay city and Mandalay Blood Bank in Mandalay General Hospital were purposely selected and a total of 406 first-time blood donors participated. A structured questionnaire administered by an interviewer was used. The questionnaire contained background characteristics, knowledge on TTIs, attitude toward TTIs, and TTIs risk behaviors. To examine the determinants (background characteristics, knowledge, and attitude) that affect risk behavior, inferential statistics techniques that included the chi-squared test, bivariable logistic regression, and multivariable logistic regression were applied. A p-value of less than 0.05 signified statistical significance. Among 406 first-time blood donors, 52.9% were under 20 years old, and 53.7% were male. Most had undergraduate education (77.6%), were married (84.2%), and were students (55.7%). Additionally, 76.8% hadn't received the hepatitis B vaccine. Blood groups were distributed as follows: B (40.0%), O (33.8%), A (23.4%), AB (8.9%). About 15.8% showed high knowledge level, and 63.6% had high attitude. Notably, 29.3% exhibited high-risk behavior for TTIs. Age was associated with lower risk behavior (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 0.99, 2.38, p = 0.049), but lost significance in multivariable regression (p = 0.214). Knowledge on TTIs didn't show significance. However, high attitudes were significantly associated with lower risk behavior (OR = 11.4, 95% CI: 1.25, 103.83, p = 0.017, retained in multivariable regression, p = 0.012). Findings of this study contribute in the development of programs that ensure a safe and reliable blood supply chain. To improve blood safety standards among first-time blood donors, this study highlights the value of targeted education and screening processes, placing particular emphasis on acquiring knowledge and positive attitude toward blood donation and risk behavior.

Challenges in organising blood donation camps at remote military base and its impact on blood component quality: A unique helicopter-based whole blood transport experience

BackgroundThere is a huge gap between safe blood supply and clinical demand in India and voluntary blood donation camps (BDSs) are vital to address this gap. The study evaluates the challenges faced in organizing remote setting voluntary BDCs and assess the impact of helicopter-flight on the quality of the whole blood units (WBU) and blood components (BC) prepared. MethodsThis is an observational study in which two voluntary BDCs were organised in remote military-based setting in 2021. Pre-camp activities, camp organisation, community engagement, and transportation logistics were evaluated. All WBU collected were exposed to helicopter-flight for transportation to the main blood centre with cold-chain maintenance. Impact of helicopter-flight on WBU and BC prepared was evaluated by performing extensive quality control (QC) testing. ResultsA total of 123 WBU were collected in both camps with transportation time of 160 and 150 min for camp-1 and −2 respectively. 123 PRBC, 22 BC-PC, 75 FFP and 48 CRYO units were prepared in-total within recommended time-limits. No haemolysis was detected in WBU, and all BC met QC criteria as per National guidelines. ConclusionsProper pre-camp planning, prior screening of donors, clear collection process policy, feasibility of efficient transport system, regular communication, and maintenance of cold-chain are crucial factors in determining the success of remote BDCs and quality of BC. Our study provides practical recommendations for policymakers, military healthcare providers, transfusion medicine specialists and public health professionals to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of voluntary blood donation programs in remote settings.

An optimization framework for large-scale screening under limited testing capacity with application to COVID-19.

We consider the problem of targeted mass screening of heterogeneous populations under limited testing capacity. Mass screening is an essential tool that arises in various settings, e.g., ensuring a safe supply of blood, reducing prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, and mitigating the spread of infectious disease outbreaks. The goal of mass screening is to classify whole population groups as positive or negative for an infectious disease as efficiently and accurately as possible. Under limited testing capacity, it is not possible to screen the entire population and hence administrators must reserve testing and target those among the population that are most in need or most susceptible. This paper addresses this decision problem by taking advantage of accessible population-level risk information to identify the optimal set of sub-populations to target for screening. We conduct a comprehensive analysis that considers the two most commonly adopted schemes: Individual testing and Dorfman group testing. For both schemes, we formulate an optimization model that aims to minimize the number of misclassifications under a testing capacity constraint. By analyzing the formulations, we establish key structural properties which we use to construct efficient and accurate solution techniques. We conduct a case study on COVID-19 in the United States using geographic-based data. Our results reveal that the considered proactive targeted schemes outperform commonly adopted practices by substantially reducing misclassifications. Our case study provides important managerial insights with regards to optimal allocation of tests, testing designs, and protocols that dictate the optimality of schemes. Such insights can inform policy-makers with tailored and implementable data-driven recommendations.

A comparative analysis of screening technologies for transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ensuring the safety of blood supply relies on robust screening and donor selection processes. This study assessed the technical performance of automated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (EVOLIS, Bio-Rad, France) and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (COBAS 6000 e601 and COBAS e411, Roche Diagnostics, Germany) in detecting hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective data of transfusion transmissible infections (TTI) screening test results were collected from blood center records, encompassing two phases: January 2020 to May 2020 (phase 1) and March 2021 to April 2021 (phase 2). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ELISA and ECLIA were calculated. Performance evaluation was conducted using the Youden’s index and the kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The study included a total of 824, 755, and 830 donor samples in phase 1 and 1237, 1238, and 1236 donor samples in phase 2 for HIV, HBV, and HCV testing, respectively. High agreement (kappa 0.88, 0.95) existed between ELISA and COBAS e601 for HIV and HBV, with substantial agreement (kappa 0.66) for HCV. Likewise, substantial agreement (kappa 0.66, 0.79, 0.79) was found between ELISA and COBAS e411 for all three parameters HIV, HBV and HCV, respectively. Notably, nearly all false-positive samples detected by ECLIA had low cutoff index values ranging from 1 to 6.5. CONCLUSION: The differences in sensitivity and specificity contribute to the discrepancy observed between various serological testing platforms, such as ELISA and ECLIA, for TTI testing. Specifically, low signal/cutoff ratios ≤6.5 obtained with ECLIA are highly indicative of false-positive results.

Prevalence and Causes of Blood Deferral in Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital Islamabad

Background: A blood transfusion is a vital and potentially life-saving operation in modern therapeutic and surgical procedures; yet, it requires a sufficient supply of safe blood from a healthy donor. In addition to laboratory testing of blood bags for infectious illnesses, appropriate, safe, and healthy donor selection is required. On the other hand, the loss of valuable blood components that are accessible for transfusion results from fit donors deferring. Understanding the reasons for both temporary and permanent deferrals can help us prevent this, put our knowledge into practice. The current study aimed to assess the incidence and reasons behind blood donor deferrals at Islamabad teaching hospital that provides tertiary care. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital’s blood bank. All Blood donors reporting to donate blood at a blood bank between the periods of 1st September 2020 to 24th December 2021 were included in the study. The data was obtained by interviewing the donors using specially designed Performa. The collected data of deferred blood donors was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: Out of a total of 2054 blood donors, 523 (25.5%) were deferred due to different reasons and ineligible to donate blood. Out of 523 deferred donors, 455(87%) were males and 68(13%) were females. The average age of the blood donors was 26(4.2%) and most blood donors were between 20 to 40 years age. The common causes for deferral were low hemoglobin (41.3%), recent COVID-19 vaccination (12.6%) and increased TLC (7.1%). Hepatitis B virus 39(7.5%), Hepatitis C virus (4.4%), HIV 5(1.0%) and Syphilis 18 (3.4%). Conclusion: The most frequent reasons for delay were elevated TLC count, recent COVID-19 immunization, and low hemoglobin levels. The cornerstone of a safe blood supply is the donor education on self-exclusion and strict selection criteria.

Pathogen reduced red blood cells as an alternative to irradiated and washed components with potential for up to 42 days storage.

The urgency of maintaining a safe and adequate blood supply is increasing. One approach to ensure a sufficient supply is to limit the outdating frequency of blood components. Pathogen inactivation technology was developed primarily to increase safety by preventing transmission of infectious diseases. The Intercept Blood System for pathogen reduction of red blood cells (RBC) has additional benefits such as inactivation of leucocytes and removal of plasma and storage debris through centrifugation. Irradiation and automated washing are detrimental to the RBC membrane and often implicate shortened shelf-life. We aimed to assess whether pathogen inactivation can replace RBC irradiation and washing to avoid shelf-life reduction. RBC concentrates (No.=48) were pooled-and-split into four study arms, which underwent pathogen inactivation treatment, irradiation, automated washing or no treatment (reference). RBC quality was evaluated during 42 days by assessment of storage lesion. Washing efficacy was defined by IgA and albumin reduction. Pathogen reduced RBCs had similar membrane preservation to reference RBCs (hemolysis, microvesicles and extracellular potassium ions), whereas the RBCs were negatively impacted by irradiation or automated washing. ATP increased substantially post-pathogen inactivation, while 2,3-DPG decreased. Pathogen inactivation considerably reduced albumin and IgA, though slightly less efficiently than automated washing. RBCs exhibit superior membrane preservation after pathogen inactivation treatment, compared to both irradiation and automated washing. This suggests that replacement is possible, even though the plasma reduction protocol could be further optimised.Replacement of irradiated and washed RBC concentrates with pathogen reduced RBC concentrates storable up to 42 days would be advantageous for both the blood supply and patient safety.

Blood Donor Selection Profile an Important Tool for Blood Safety: An Institutional Experience

Background and Aim: Blood transfusions can be a crucial, life-saving treatment in modern medical and surgical practice. The primary objective of blood transfusion services worldwide is to guarantee the availability of a sufficient and safe supply of blood and blood products. Meticulous donor screening and use of highly sensitive techniques for the detection of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) may help reduce the risk of TTIs and, hence, are important steps to ensure safety for both donor and recipient. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective record-based study done at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. The blood donors’ data from January 2012 to December 2022 (10 years) were collected from the blood bank registry at the study site and were analyzed. Results: Males dominated the donor population (98.2%) with females comprising only (1.8%). In total, 10.9% were found unfit for donation for various reasons. Voluntary donors were (6.3%) and replacement donors were (93.7%). Out of the reasons for deferral, majority 497/1223 (40.6%) donors were deferred due to hemoglobin <12.5 g/dl, followed by 156/1223 (12.8%) deferrals due to alcohol intake within the past 72 h. Conclusion: Safe donor selection is the first step toward safe transfusion services. Identification of population groups that can be targeted to enhance the pool of willing blood donors is made easier by studying and analyzing the blood donor profile.

The Blood Donor Deferral Rate and the Reasons for Deferral at a Tertiary Care Teaching Institute in Northeastern Malaysia.

A deferral takes place when donors fail to meet the eligibility criteria for donating blood during their visit to a blood collection site. Deferral periods, which can be either permanent or temporary, are implemented to protect the well-being of both the donor and the recipient.This study aimed to investigate the frequency of deferrals and the various factors contributing to them.A retrospective analysis was conducted at the Transfusion Medicine Unit of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), utilizing data obtained from blood donors during the period from January 2022 to June 2023. The research included a cohort of 18,751 donors who visited our transfusion unit for blood donation. Data, including gender, age, and reasons for deferral, were collected by reviewing the records of donors who were deferred. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data of deferral blood donors.Out of 18,751 blood donors, 3,533 (18.84%) were deferred, consisting of 1,267 males (35.86%) and 2,266 females (64.14%). The age group of 18-25 years accounted for the highest number, comprising 1,875 donors (53.07%). Among the deferred cases, 53.33% were first-time donors, followed by 25.28% regular donors and 21.40% lapsed donors. The deferral of blood donors resulted from various reasons. The most common cause of overall deferral among blood donors was low hemoglobin (38.33%), followed by upper respiratory tract infections (8.38%), chronic medical illness (7.08%), and high blood pressure (7.02%). Temporary deferrals were more prevalent than permanent deferrals, accounting for 91.57% of cases compared to 8.43% for permanent deferrals.Voluntary non-remunerative blood donors constitute the backbone for a safe and reliable blood supply in transfusion services. Utilizing a comprehensive database will enable effective counseling of temporarily deferred donors, providing insights into the reasons for their deferral, the expected duration, and the appropriate treatments. This information is crucial for motivating these donors to recruit again in the donor pool. Public education initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the causes of deferral and promoting regular health check-ups can play a pivotal role in minimizing these deferrals.

Exploration of the Healthy Donor Effect Among 0.6 Million Blood Donors in China: Longitudinal Study.

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of completely voluntary blood donation to maintain safe and sustainable blood supplies. However, the benefits of blood donation for donors, such as reducing the risk of disease, remain a topic of debate due to the existence of the healthy donor effect (HDE). This effect arises because of inherent health differences between blood donors and the general population, and it is also considered a methodological issue. This study aims to generate a more detailed health profile of blood donors from a donor cohort study to mitigate and quantify the HDE and properly interpret the association between blood donation and disease outcomes among blood donors. A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2012 and December 2018 among donors before their first donation. One-to-one propensity score matching was conducted through a random selection of individuals without any history of blood donation, as reported from their electronic health records. We conducted a Poisson regression between blood donors and non-blood donors before the first donation to estimate the adjusted incidence rate ratio (AIRR) of selected blood donation-related diseases, as defined by 13 categories of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. Of the 0.6 million blood donors, 15,115 had an inpatient record before their first donation, whereas 17,356 non-blood donors had an inpatient record. For the comparison between blood donors and the matched non-blood donors, the HDE (the disease incidence rate ratio between non-blood donors and blood donors) was an AIRR of 1.152 (95% CI 1.127-1.178; P<.001). Among disease categories not recommended for blood donation in China, the strongest HDE was observed in the ICD-10 D50-D89 codes, which pertain to diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs as well as certain disorders involving the immune mechanism (AIRR 3.225, 95% CI 2.402-4.330; P<.001). After age stratification, we found that people who had their first blood donation between 46-55 years old had the strongest HDE (AIRR 1.816, 95% CI 1.707-1.932; P<.001). Both male and female donors had significant HDE (AIRR 1.082, 95% CI 1.05-1.116; P=.003; and AIRR 1.236, 95% CI 1.196-1.277; P<.001, respectively) compared with matched non-blood donors. : Our research findings suggest that the HDE is present among blood donors, particularly among female donors and those who first donated blood between the ages of 46 and 55 years. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200055983; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=51760.