To study the effect of 'Covishield' vaccination on pre-donation platelet counts of plateletpheresis donors

ABSTRACT Introduction: Approximately 55.52% of the Indian population had been fully vaccinated by Jan. 2022, since its first roll out on January 16, 2021. A few concerns were raised concerning the Covishield vaccination related to thrombotic thrombocytopenia. Apheresis-derived platelet concentrates are frequently required in a plethora of clinical situations and post-vaccination decrement of platelet counts might lead to increased deferral of the plateletpheresis donors. Objectives. The aim of the study was to discover the effect of the Covishield vaccination on deferral rates of plateletpheresis donors. Methods: Blood samples were collected from the potential platelet donors for the completion of the standard questionnaire for the complete blood count. The data collected were tabulated in the MS Excel spreadsheet and the biostatistical analysis was performed with the SPSS v23. A p-value of < 0.05 was taken as significant. We compared this data with age-and sex-matched controls. Results: The mean age of cases and controls was 29.69 ± 8.57 and 30.15 ± 7.11, respectively. There was a significant difference in platelet counts of cases (188496.35 ± 72065.66/cumm) and controls (269524.50 ± 53981.60/cumm). Furthermore, donors who received one dose had higher platelet counts of 248676.47 ± 80075.24/cumm than those who received both doses of vaccine (179970.83 ± 66773.73/cumm). The difference in deferral rates between the two groups was remarkable (34.7% vs. 0.9%, with the p-value < 0.001). Conclusion: Vaccination certainly increased the deferral rates of plateletpheresis donors due to low platelet counts. Average platelet counts were low in fully vaccinated individuals, however, the platelets returned to normal counts as the post-vaccination days progressed.

Analysis of Donor Deferral in a Tertiary Health Institution in South-Western Nigeria

Aim:This study aimed at evaluating the deferral pattern among blood donors, in order to draw out lessons that will help canvass for a strengthened policy framework and encourage better outcomes in voluntary blood donation. Study Design:This was a retrospective study. Place and Duration of Study:All the data were sourced from the central database of donors, as recorded by the Haematology Department of Babcock University Teaching Hospital Ilisan-Remo, Ogun state, Nigeria. The data used spanned through a period of 5 years, from 2017 to 2021. Methodology:A total of 7,362voluntary and non-remunerated blood donors were included in this study. Their records were accessed and used for the study. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25. The level of statisticalsignificance was set at P < 0.05.Results:In this study, half (50.2%) of the entire population of volunteers were between the ages of 18 and 30 years while only 3.7% of them were between 51 and 60 years of age. There were more male volunteers for blood donation compared to the females who only represented 10.8% of the population. 61% of the voluntary donorswere accepted for blood donation while 39% were regarded as unfit and hence, deferred. The 3 main reasons for deferral in this study were inadequate hemoglobin (54.7% of deferral cases), unmatched blood group (30.9%) and transfusion transmissible infections (14.4%). Age and gender had a statistically significant (P < 0.05) relationship with the pattern of deferral of the volunteers. Conclusion:The high deferral rate observed in this study may reveal an urgent need for a community-based intervention and targeted efforts by necessary agencies to help improve the general health status of possible future voluntary blood donors.

Study on blood donor deferral strategy by analyzing anti-TP test results / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To discuss the reliability and applicability of the current blood deferral strategy concerning anti-TPreactive blood donors (by ELISA). 【Methods】 TPPA confirmatory test was performed on the samples routinely detected by two different anti-TP ELISA reagents(reagent 1 and reagent 2), and the test data of dual reagent reactive and one reagent reactive blood donors were analyzed to determine the possibility of true positivity. 【Results】 1 624 anti-TP reactive samples(by ELISA) were collected, among which 1 467 were dual reagent reactive, 77 were reagent 1 reactive, and 80 were reagent 2 reactive. TPPA results showed that the positive predictive value (PPV) of dual reactive samples was 85.48%. Samples with high S/CO value (reagent 1≥13 and/or reagent 2 >17) were more likely to be true positive, with the PPV at 98.56% (reagent 1) and 99.13% (reagent 2), respectively, which were significantly higher than that when the S/CO value was≥1. Among the samples reactive to one reagent, 2 were confirmed positive in reagent 1 and 3 in reagent 2, with the PPV at 2.60% and 3.75% respectively, and had no correlation with high S/CO value. 【Conclusion】 Dual-reagent reactive donors with high S/CO value showed high possibility of true positivity, therefore should be deferred. TPPA test is helpful to identify true positivity in one-reagent reactive donors. Confirmatory test and follow-up should be a supplement to the current blood donor deferral strategy to ensure blood safety.

Causes analysis of blood donor deferral in 20 domestic blood centers / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the main causes of blood donor deferral in domestic blood center. 【Methods】 The causes of donor deferral were classified into 12 categories as previous medical history, drug use, alcohol consumption, menstrual period, underweight, abnormal blood pressure, abnormal body temperature, abnormal hemoglobin (Hb), lipemic blood, positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and others according to the comparison indicators of Asia-Pacific Blood Network (APBN) and the national standard Blood Donor Health Examination Requirements. The relevant data of the top 3 causes of donor deferral, voluntarily reported by the members of Practice Comparison Working Group of China’s Mainland Blood Collection and Supply Institutions from 2014 to 2019, were collected and a histogram was generated. 【Results】 The median donor deferral rate of 20 domestic blood centers from 2014 to 2019 was 12.14%, with the lowest at 0.18% and highest at 32.32%, respectively. The top three causes for donor deferral were elevated ALT, abnormal Hb and abnormal blood pressure in year 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019; elevated ALT, lipemic blood and abnormal blood pressure in 2016; elevated ALT, abnormal Hb, and lipemic blood in 2017. 【Conclusion】 The main causes of donor deferral were elevated ALT, abnormal Hb, abnormal blood pressure and lipemic blood.

Establish deferral criterion for HIV serological testing in blood donors / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To establish deferral criterion of HIV ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay(ECLIA) by using receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) method to screen HIV reactive blood donors suitable for entering the re-entry process and improve the management efficiency of reactive blood donors. 【Methods】 The test results of 92 001 blood donors from February to September 2019 were analyzed, and 177 reactive samples were screened by conventional screening mode (twice ELISA and once nucleic acid), supplemented with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay assay (ECLIA), and confirmed by Western blotting (WB). Screening reactive samples were divided into three groups: group A was both serological and nucleic acid reactivity, group B was only serological reactive, and group C was only nucleic acid reactivity. Its efficacy in blood donor classification was assessed by drawing ROC curves with 99% specific corresponding S/CO low values as the deferral criterion of the corresponding serological method. 【Results】 1) A total of 177 HIV reactive samples were detected in conventional mode, including 34 in group A, 142 in Group B and 1 in Group C. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 100%, 0.75% and 100%, respectively. ECLIA detection mode (once ECLIA and once NAT), a total of 67 HIV reactive samples including 34 in group A, 32 in group B and 1 in group C, with positive predictive values of 100%, 3.7% and 100%, respectively.2) The HIV test results showed diversity, with 36 true positive samples including 1 HIV elite controller and 3 early HIV infections (1 HIV ELISA antigen/antibody window and 2 ELISA HIV antibody window), and 32 serological and NAT cases were reactive infections.3) The deferral limit of ELISA 1 and ELISA 2 in conventional screening mode were 20.25 and 9.85, respectively, can screen 97.14% (34/35) of all true positive samples in group A and B, except for one ELISA HIV antibody window (ELISA 2 reactivity). The positive predictive values were 93.94% and 92.85%, respectively. The ECLIA deferral limit of 7.83 can screens all true positive samples in Groups A and B (35/35)in ECLIA mode. The positive predictive value was 94.59%. 【Conclusion】 The establishment of deferral limits in this study can effectively screen HIV-positive blood donors, and the number of screened blood donors is greatly reduced, which is helpful to fine and scientific management of HIV-reactive blood donors. The deferral limit values of different testing reagents are quite different, so each laboratory should choose appropriate testing methods to establish the deferral limit values suitable for the laboratory according to its own testing ability, so as to provide technical support for optimizing the process of returning blood donors to the team.

Causes of blood donor deferral in primary blood screening, Hangzhou / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the deferral causes of voluntary blood donors in primary blood screening in Hangzhou, so as to take steps to reduce the deferral rate. 【Methods】 The causes of donor deferral in 8 blood donation sites in Hangzhou from January 2019 to December 2020 was statistically analyzed. 【Results】 A total of 103 325 donors(49 335 in 2019, 53 990 in 2020)were registered in 8 blood donation sites in Hangzhou From 2019 to 2020, among which 87 435 (44 462 in 2019, 42 973 in 2020)were successfully donated, and 15 890 (4 873 in 2019, 11 017 in 2020) were deferred, with a deferral rate of 15.38%(9.88% in 2019, 20.41% in 2020). The main reasons leading to donation deferral were Alt, medical history and lipemic blood. Significant differences were noticed in deferral items as medical history, HBsAg, TP, ALT and lipemic blood by gender and donation history, and not in Hb by gender. 【Conclusion】 Promoted publicity, specified primary blood screening, especially the pre-donationTP detection can effectively reduce the proportion of high-risk blood donors, cut down blood deferral rate, thus avoiding the waste of blood resources and balancing blood supply and demand.

Motivos de diferimiento de potenciales donantes de un banco de sangre de medellín-colombia, 2012-2018

Introducción: en Colombia no se dispone de investigaciones sobre las causas de diferimiento de potenciales donantes de sangre. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de los motivos de diferimiento de donantes de un banco de sangre en Medellín, Colombia. Métodos: estudio transversal con 43.002 sujetos en quienes se estimó la prevalencia general de diferimientos y las específicas por sexo y edad. Para cada motivo de diferimiento se estimaron razones de odds crudas y ajustadas mediante modelos de regresión logística. Resultados: los principales motivos de diferimiento fueron el riesgo del compañero sexual (25,2 %), hemoglobina inadecuada (15,2 %) y procedencia de zonas endémicas de malaria o Chagas (8,2 %), la menor prevalencia se registró en la exposición o reactividad a infecciones trasmisibles por transfusión. En las mujeres la mayor prevalencia fue baja hemoglobina, reactividad en pruebas inmunohematológicas, riesgo con elementos cortopunzantes y tratamientos contraindicados para donar, y en los hombres fueron las enfermedades de base, reactividad en marcadores de infección del banco y riesgo sexual. Conclusión: El banco presentó una alta prevalencia de diferimientos por el comportamiento sexual y la hemoglobina, con diferencias estadísticas según la edad y el sexo. Esto constituye una evidencia relevante para mejorar procesos de captación, campañas educativas y acciones de salud pública, prevención y vigilancia epidemiológica de los diferimientos más prevalentes para garantizar un suministro suficiente de sangre.

Introduction: In Colombia, there is no research on the causes of blood donor deferral. Objective: To determine the prevalence of the reasons for donor deferral of a blood bank in Medellín, Colombia. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study with 43,002 subjects to estimate the general and sex-/age-specific prevalence of deferrals. For each deferral reason, crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression models. Results: The main reasons for deferral were the risk of the sexual partner (25.2 %), inadequate hemoglobin (15.2 %), and origin from endemic areas of malaria or Chagas (8.2 %); the lowest prevalence was reported in exposure or reactivity to transfusion-transmissible infections. In women, the highest prevalence was low hemoglobin, reactivity in immunohaematological tests, the risk of sharps, and contraindicated treatments for donating, and in men, underlying diseases, reactivity in bank infection markers, and sexual risk. Conclusion: The bank had a high prevalence of sexual behavior and hemoglobin deferrals, with statistical differences in age and sex. The preceding constitutes relevant evidence to improve recruitment processes, educational campaigns and public health actions, epidemiological prevention, and surveillance of the most prevalent deferrals to ensure sufficient blood supply.

Blood donation deferral policies among men who have sex with men in Brazil

ABSTRACT Reevaluation of the deferral from voluntary blood donation by men who have sex with men (MSM) is being discussed in several countries, motivated by the need to ensure a blood supply free from transfusion-transmissible infections (e.g., HIV, syphilis). Policies being considered include: permanent exclusion for any male-male sexual encounter, temporary deferral (3 months, 12 months, 5 years) from the last encounter, or specifying behaviors that differentiate MSM at high risk from those at low risk. Current Brazilian regulations defer MSM from blood donation for 12-months after the last male-male sexual encounter. Broad epidemiological evidence indicates that many MSM are at increased risk for HIV in the present era, and few data exist to distinguish which men are likely to be in the immunological window for detection of these infections. A multicenter study developed in Brazil demonstrated that the history of male-male sex was the most strongly associated with being an HIV-positive blood donor. Meanwhile, the blanket deferral of MSM from blood donation has generated considerable controversy. Rejection of the deferral policies stems in part from perspectives defending human rights, promoting equality and citizenship, and alleging bias and discrimination. The objective of this report is to discuss the current situation of blood donation among MSM in Brazil. We highlight the lack of evidence for a true risk profile for male-male sex in the context of blood donation upon which to base sound policy. We recommend research to establish effective and acceptable criteria for blood donation by MSM and other blood donors.

​The Evaluation of Predonation Blood Donor Deferrals in a Tertiary Care Center: A 3-year Study

Background: Blood safety a major issue in the field of transfusion medicine. Persons who are disqualified or rejected fromdonating blood are known as “deferred” donors. Deferrals lead to loss of precious blood/components available for transfusion.For preventing this, we should be having knowledge of the causes of deferral and their frequency. To make blood transfusionsafe for the patients, many safety measures are undertaken and the most important is a selection of the suitable blood donors.Hence, it is important to analyze the reasons and rate for donor deferral and retain the motivated donors.Aims: This study aims to evaluate and analyze the reasons of predonation deferrals.Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, causes of donor deferral were evaluated retrospectively including both inhospital donations (and outdoor camp donations) including voluntary and replacement donors from January 2016 to December2018 in the State of the Art Model blood bank of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Memorial Hospital and Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru MemorialMedical College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.Results: Among 53,245 donors registered, 1894 (3.56%) were deferred from blood donation. Temporary deferrals weresignificantly higher than permanent deferral. The most common reasons for temporary deferral were anemia, followed byunderweight, recent medication, high blood pressure (BP), and low BP and so on. The common causes for permanent deferralincluded being overage, diabetes, asthma, heart disease, hepatitis B surface antigen positivity, and epilepsy and so on.Conclusion: Creating public awareness on common causes of donor deferral may help to lower the deferral rates as well aspromote the retention of potential donors.

Early Prediction of Coagulopathy in Acquired Bleeding Disorders - Revisited Using Rotational Thromboelastometry

Introduction: Acquired bleeding disorders are a major causeof mortality, both in the developed and developing countries.An acute haemorrhage should be managed immediately withblood products, factor concentrates or anti-fibrinolytics.Investigations to detect coagulopathies typically includebaseline screening tests like prothrombin time, activatedpartial thromboplastin time, platelet count and fibrinogenlevel. These tests have a long turn around time whichfrequently lead to a blinded approach towards blood productsupport leading to under or over transfusion. In contrast,rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) which assesseshaemostasis from the start of clot formation to fibrinolysisgives earliest results within ten minutes. This study wasdone to establish a correlation between ROTEM parametersand standard coagulation profile in the context of acquiredbleeding disorders.Material and Methods: A total of 138 subjects - 70 patientswho presented with acquired bleeding disorders and 68 subjectsdiagnosed to be normal on the basis of a complete coagulationwork up were included as the cases and controls respectively.All samples were subjected to standard coagulation profileand ROTEM analysis which included Clotting Time, ClotFormation Time, Alpha Angle, Maximum Clot Firmness andMaximum Lysis.Results: The Maximum Clot Firmness had a very goodco relation with serum fibrinogen levels (k value - 0.807;p<0.000; Sensitivity - 88%; Specificity - 92%), and goodcorrelation with platelet count (k value - 0.793; p< 0.000;Sensitivity - 86%, Specificity-92%), whereas Clot FormationTime showed moderate correlation with aPTT. Clotting timehad a poor correlation with prothrombin time and activatedpartial thromboplastin time.Conclusion: The achievement of haemostasis is a crucialfactor for determining patient outcomes in acquired bleedingdisorders. The gold standard test to diagnose coagulopathy is thestandard coagulation profile. Rotational thromboelastometrycorrelates well with standard coagulation parameters. Thistest which is performed on whole blood showed interpretableresults within 10 minutes, whereas standard coagulationprofile required an average of 45 – 75 minutes. In view of thegood correlation to the standard coagulation profile, it appearsthat Rotational Thromboelastometry results can be safely usedto implement early transfusion therapy for haemorrhage.

Establish and confirm of blood donor deferral criterion in HBsAg ELISA test / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To establish and confirm the hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) high specificity S/CO limit as blood donor deferral criterion.Methods A total of 783 HBsAg ELISA reactive and 588 non-reactive samples were collected, and confirmed by HBsAg electrochemiluminescence detection and neutralization test.Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the S/CO limit under 95% and 99% specificity.Another 124 HBsAg ELSIA reactive samples were tested for five kinds of hepatitis B virus(HBV) markers by using electrochemiluminescence detection to verify the blood donor deferral limit.The blood donor deferral limits of 3 laboratories, using the same reagents, were compared.Results The 95% specificity S/CO limit of two reagents were 0.24 and 0.65, the 99% specificity S/CO limit of two reagents were 3.89 and 3.62.The 99% specificity S/CO limit was set as the blood donor deferral criterion.Verify test indicated that the samples, with S/CO higher than the blood donor reentry limit of reagent 1 and 2, were all from HBV infected donor.The 99% specificity S/CO limits of reagent 1 in the other three laboratories were 3.77, 3.60 and 13.42 respectively.And the 99% specificity S/CO limits of reagent 2 in the other three laboratories were 27.73, 31.75 and 1.17.Conclusion The blood donor deferral limit of HBsAg ELISA could identify the true positive blood donor, and reduce the number of blood donor, entering the reentry process.It might not suit to adopt a unified donor deferral limit in different laboratories, even using the same reagents.

Evaluation of causes of deferral of blood donors in blood bank – A study of 2 years at tertiary care hospital blood bank

Background: Millions of patients who are in need of blood transfusion do not have timely access to safe blood. Donor selection is important to ensure safe blood supply. Blood transfusion services (BTS) have the responsibility to collect blood only from donors who are at low risk for any infection that could be transmitted through transfusion and who are unlikely to jeopardize their own health by blood donation. A rigorous process to assess the suitability of prospective donors is therefore essential to protect the safety and sufficiency of the blood supply, and safeguard the health of recipients of transfusion and blood donors themselves, while ensuring that suitable donors are not deferred unnecessarily. Aim: To study the incidence and causes for deferral of both voluntary and replacement Donors in Blood Bank. Materials and methods: The study was conducted over a period of 2 years from 2015 January to 2017 January at Gandhi Hospital Blood Bank, under Gandhi Hospital; which is a tertiary care referral Hospital. Results: A total of 2510 donors of both voluntary and replacement category were deferred, among which males were 1790 were males and 720 were females. The commonest cause of deferral among males was alcohol intake within 24 hours, followed by underweight and hypertension. The commonest cause among female donors was anemia followed by menstrual history within one week. Conclusion: Analysis and evaluation of deferral in blood donors helps us to understand the causes of deferral and deferral rate. This helps us in providing safe blood to the recipients by promoting blood donation by healthy donors. There is a need to motivate more voluntary non remunerable donors to ensure safe blood to all by conducting educational and motivational programs.

The non-deferrable mise-en-crise of the quotidian / O improrrogável colocar-em-crise do cotidiano / La improrrogable puesta-en-crisis del quotidiano

The perpetual crisis of Late Capitalism, ubiquitously present in our quotidian as background to all being-doing, is confronted by the non-method of the mise-en-crise of our devising. By putting our quotidian in crisis, we educe crisis from the future and invoke the infinite potential of the anarchive—a drawing forth which produces chaos within process so that difference inhabits repetition. We rely on the active forgetting of inherited disciplined knowledges and perfected operating procedures to actualise modes and practices of composition which enable experimentation through a multiplicity of contemplations and aberrant becomings. We espouse an affirmative, immanent critique as a mode of knowing and composing so that when we ask "What next?" we leave no other course of action other than the ineluctable exercise of our subjectivity as the facticity of resolution of crisis.

A crise perpétua do capitalismo tardio, presente de forma ubíqua em nosso cotidiano como pano de fundo de todo ser-fazendo, é confrontada com o não-método da mise-en-crise de nossa concepção. Colocando nosso cotidiano em crise, geramos crise do futuro e invocamos o potencial infinito do anarquivo - um desdobramento que produz o caos dentro do processo para que a diferença habite a repetição. Contamos com o esquecimento ativo de conhecimentos disciplinados herdados e procedimentos operacionais aperfeiçoados para atualizar modos e práticas de composição que permitem a experimentação através de uma multiplicidade de contemplações e de devires aberrantes. Adotamos uma crítica afirmativa e imanente como um modo de conhecer e compor, de modo que quando perguntamos "O que vem depois?", não deixamos outro curso de ação além do exercício inelutável de nossa subjetividade como facticidade de resolução de crises.

Confrontamos la crisis perpétua del capitalismo tardio, presente de forma ubíqua en nuestro cotidiano como tela de fondo de todo ser-hacer, con el no-método de la puesta en crisis de nuestra concepción. Abrazando el potencial infinito del anarquivo invocamos en el presente una crisis futura para que surja el caos dentro del proceso. Contamos con el olvido activo de conocimientos disciplinares y praticas perfeccionadas a fin de elaborar modos y prácticas de composición que posibiliten una multiplicidad de contemplaciones y devenires aberrantes. Como estrategia para lidiar con una crisis, proponemos una crítica inmanente, afirmativa, como modo de construcción de saberes que se basan sobre la filosofía de la diferencia y su articulación, de forma que cuando preguntemos ¿Que sigue ahora? no dejamos ningún otro curso que el ejercicio de nuestra subjetividad como hecho factible de la diferencia.

Analysis of the Reasons for Donor Deferral after Introduction of the Electronic Donor Health Questionnaire Program / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Electronic Donor Health Questionnaire (e-DHQ) could prevent omissions in filling in the questionnaire. Compared with the paper Donor Health Questionnaire (p-DHQ), it can expect honest answers from donors to the questions relating to high risk behaviors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of e-DHQ on the answers from donors by analyzing variations of the reasons for deferral after the introduction of e-DHQ to the Korean Red Cross (KRC). METHODS: The reasons for deferral determined by p-DHQ in 2008~2011 and by e-DHQ in 2011~2014, which have been accumulated in the database of the Blood Information Management System in KRC, were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The results showed that the deferral rates for the general health status and medication taken were 0.47% (P=0.0100) and 0.16% (P=0.0103) higher in e-DHQ than in p-DHQ. In particular, for questions including hunger, lack of sleep, fatigue, endoscopy, dental treatment, surgery, tattoo, and acupuncture, the proportion of answers was higher in e-DHQ than in p-DHQ. CONCLUSION: The deferral rates for general health status and medication taken increased after the implementation of e-DHQ. The rate of deferral by some details of general health status, medical treatment for recent one month, and history for recent one year also increased because e-DHQ induced donors to give straightforward answers. e-DHQ is expected to contribute to the strengthening of health protection of blood donors and recipients. However the questions relating to high risk behaviors should be reformed so that honest answers can be induced from donors.

Analysis of the Reentry Test Results of the Deferred Donors with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Reactivity / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: Since 2004, the donors showing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) reactive results have been registered in the donor deferral registry (DDR). Some of them can donate blood as eligible donors by passing the reentry tests. We evaluated the results of the reentry tests during 1 year. METHODS: We tested the samples from 2,230 deferred donors with HBsAg reactivity and 1,668 samples from donors who had a past history of hepatitis B and all these patients required reentry tests. Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antibody and hepatitis B surface antibody were tested for by using ARCHITECT HBsAg (Abbott, Wiesbaden, Germany), ARCHITECT anti-HBc (Abbott), and ARCHITECT anti-HBs (Abbott) and using an ARCHITECT i2000SR (Abbott). Hepatitis B virus DNA was tested for by performing HBV Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with a COBAS AMPLICOR HBV MONITOR TEST (Roche Molecular Systems Inc., Branchburg, USA) and using a COBAS AMPLICOR (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland). RESULTS: 894 (40.1%) of 2,230 the deferred donors and 880 (52.8%) of 1,668 donors who had a past history of hepatitis B were reentered as eligible donors. 1,171 (30.0%) of the 3,898 tested donors couldn't be released due to positive results on the anti-HBc test and 81.5% of them were also anti-HBs positive. CONCLUSION: The reentry test seems to be necessary to restore blood donors. But it was considered that the donor showing a reactive result for anti-HBc and a nonreactive result for HBsAg and HBV PCR can be released as eligible donors if the anti-HBs titer is higher than the reference value.

Analysis of the Reentry Test Results of the HCV Deferred Donors / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: The donor deferral registry (DDR) program has been operating since 2004. The donors who registered in the DDR are prohibited from donating blood. But some of them can enter the eligible donor group if they pass a reentry test. We analyzed the results of the reentry tests for the HCV deferred donors. METHODS: A total of 587 donor samples were tested during 18 months (July. 2007~December. 2008). Anti-HCV (ARCHITECT HCV, Abbott, Wiesbaden, Germany), RIBA (LG HCD confirm, LG Life Sciences, Daejeon, Korea), and HCV RNA (PCR with COBAS AMPLICOR HCV, Roche, Molecular Systems, Inc. Branchburg, USA) were used for detection. The donors showing negativity for all the test items were released from the DDR. RESULTS: Among the 587 subjects, 466 (79.4%) of the donors who showed negative results on the tests were released from DDR. The donors who showed variable positive results for the tests were not released. Only 15 donors of 121 donors showed positive or indeterminate (ID) results according to the anti-HCV, RIBA and the PCR results. CONCLUSION: Those people with RIBA ID with negative results in anti-HCV and PCR results were unnecessarily kept on the retained in DDR unnecessarily. The algorithm of the reentry test for HCV deferred donors seems to needs to be reevaluated to for the saveing eligible donors.

Trends of Donor Population and Donor Deferral during the Past Eleven Years (1995~2005) / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: With the rapid aging of the Korean population and the steady decrease in the donor population during the past few years, there is a need for measures to ensure balance between blood demand and supply. The trends of the donor population and donor deferral during the past eleven years (1995~2005) were examined to obtain basic data to be used in donor management policy-making. METHODS: Data on the donor population, presenting donors, deferred donors and the reasons for deferral were examined by searching the Blood Information Management System (BIMS) and Annual reports of the Korean Red Cross. RESULTS: The number of presenting donors increased until 2003. However, the actual number of eligible donors has been decreasing since 1999 due to the increase in donor deferral. By enforcing donor eligibility criteria, the donor deferral rate in 1998 increased by 75.2% compared with the previous year, and the deferral rate was 21% in 2005. A low blood specific gravity (SG) was the most common reason for deferral, and more than 90% of those deferred due to a low SG were women. CONCLUSION: In order to assure an adequate donor base, policies should not only target donor recruitment but also the management of deferred donors. The adequacy of currently applied donor eligibility criteria should be reevaluated, and deferred donors should be counseled about their reason for deferral in order to encourage donation. Furthermore, the hemoglobin criteria for women should be reconsidered.

Evaluation of the Double Plateletpheresis Using Cell Separators for Korean Blood Donors / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety of double plateletpheresis which has already become established among developed countries and to set the guidelines for the donor selection and the deferral period between blood donations for Korean blood donors METHODS: From October to November, 2003, double plateletphereses were done in 28 voluntary donors whose platelet counts were more than 200,000/microliter at the KRC Cenral, Nambu, and Dongbu blood centers. During the collection the citrate reaction and the collection time were recorded and regular cell counts were done after the collection to assess the recovery. The platelet count, pH test, and blood culture were done in all the collected platelets. RESULTS: The mean total processing volume was 4,312mL and the mean volume of the anticoagulant infused to donor was 373 mL. The average collection time was 97 minutes. Most donors complained 'slight' citrate reaction during procedures and felt the procedures 'a little boring' because of the long collection time. The platelet count counted immediately after procedures was decreased by 35.9% on the average and it took 14 days for 95% of donors to recover the 95% level of the original platelet count. The mean product volume was 501 mL and the mean platelet yield of products was 6.4 x 10 11 platelets. The pH measured at fifth day after collection was 7.3 and no aerobic bacteria was found in the culture. CONCLUSION: No significant adverse reaction was found in double plateletpheresis for Korean blood donors as compared with the existing one dose plateletpheresis. The guidelines for donor selection should include the minimum platelet count requirement with more than 200,000/microliter and the deferral period between donations should be or more 14 days.