2,655 blood units collected from healthy voluntary donors selected according to the criteria of the International Society of Blood Transfusion were tested for the presence of aspirin. This drug was found in 6% of the samples at concentrations ranging from 10 to 200 µg/ml. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed. We also report a case of allergic reaction which could probably be related to the transfusion of blood containing aspirin.

Acetaminophen levels were determined in 1,176 sera separated from donated blood. The analysis was performed by both a colorimetric method and by high performance liquid chromatography. 6.12% of the samples contained acetaminophen levels ranging from 18 to 58 µg/ml. The possible clinical significance of such a high incidence of this drug among healthy blood donors is discussed.