Frequency and causes of deferral amongst voluntary non‐remunerated blood donors from Pakistan – a single‐centre study

Abstract

Background Amidst a system dependent on replacement donors in Pakistan, The Indus Hospital Blood Centre predominantly recruits voluntary non‐remunerated blood donors (VNRBD) to ensure provision of safe blood. Furthermore, due to unsafe practices of reuse of syringes in Pakistan, an additional criterion was added, deferring donors on recent history of therapeutic injections for medicinal purposes. Methods During the study period of 37 months (Dec 2013–Dec 2016), all potential donors visiting blood drives and the donor centre underwent a screening process via a brief physical examination and an interview. Donors were either accepted for donation, temporarily deferred or permanently deferred. Results In the study period, 63 582 potential donors visited, whereas 84% were VNRBD and 16% replacement donors. With an overall deferral of 24%, amidst VNRBD and replacement, the deferral rate was 25% and 18%, respectively. The major reasons for deferral were use of therapeutic injections followed by low haemoglobin. Furthermore, 54% of females and 21% of males visiting were deferred. Replacement donors, males and donors from underprivileged residential areas and factories had a comparatively higher proportion of deferral due to use of therapeutic injections. Conclusion The high deferral rate in this study is illustrative of the increased use of therapeutic injections amongst the Pakistani population. Additionally, due to the compulsion of providing blood donors associated with replacement donation, they are more likely to hide health conditions, hence the lower comparative deferral rate. The Pakistani population needs to be educated regarding the high risks associated with injections and replacement donors.

Frequency and Causes of Deferral among Blood Donors Presenting to Combined Military Hospital Multan

“…Rabeya et al showed 40.7% cases of deferrals due to low hemoglobin being predominantly females, but in our study, only 1.4% of the deferred cases were females [16]. In contrast to our results, a single-center study conducted in one of the blood centers in Pakistan showed therapeutic injections as the significant reason for blood donor deferrals, with low hemoglobin being second in the list [18]. An interesting study was conducted in South Pakistan to assess the deferral pattern on the basis of the peripheral count.…”

<p>Demographical Pattern of Blood Donors and Pre-Donation Deferral Causes in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia</p>

“…Similar results were reported previously where the high deferral rate was due to increased use of therapeutic agents amongst the population. 29 Drugs differ widely by structure and properties and include analgesics and antibiotics that result in a few days deferral to some growth hormones that result in permanent deferral. The use of drugs is widespread amongst prospective blood donors and is expected to rise due to many of them being on long-term treatment.…”

Blood donation in different regions of Saudi Arabia: acceptance and rejection

“…Donation was deferred in the current study due to recent medication ingestion, which was a major contributing factor. Due to a rise in the usage of therapeutic drugs in the general population, similar outcomes have been seen [56]. Structure and qualities of drugs vary greatly, ranging from analgesics and antibiotics that only have a short-term effect to growth hormones that have a long-term effect.…”