Survey Analysis of Medical Staff at Blood Centers on the Perspectives of the Current Donor Selection Criteria / 대한수혈학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The donor selection criteria should ensure the safety of both the donors and the recipients of blood products. However, modifications may help promote more blood donors in keeping with the rapidly aging Korean population. Our goal was to gather opinions of the medical staff at blood centers on the current donor selection criteria. METHODS: A survey was sent out via email to 55 medical staff at hospital blood banks, the Korean Red Cross and Hanmaeum blood centers. The survey included 14~16 questions regarding age, weight, donation volume, donation interval and frequency, hemoglobin, blood pressure, pulse rate, and the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). RESULTS: Survey responses from 38 out of 55 (69.1%) medical staff were analyzed. The donor selection criteria that showed significantly higher acceptable rates included the upper age limit (71%, P=0.009) and whole blood donation frequency and intervals (68%, P=0.023). The ALT level showed the highest unacceptable rate (84%, P<0.0001) and other criteria with significantly higher unacceptable rates included donor weight (68%, P=0.023) and donation volume (76%, P=0.001). Responses from medical staff at supply blood banks and hospital blood banks showed a significant difference regarding the use of parent/guardian consent forms in blood donors that were 16 years or younger (75% versus 41%, respectively; P=0.0368). CONCLUSION: This study outlines the perspectives of medical staff at blood centers regarding the current donor selection criteria. According to the survey, the ALT level, donor weight, and donation volume should be considered for revision. These results can be referenced in the future when proposing modifications to the donor selection criteria.