Analysis of plateletpheresis donor deferral rate in family replacement donors and volunteer donors: A brief review of the China Chongqing area

In order to ensure an adequate and safe blood supply, the plateletpheresis donor deferral rate in family replacement donors and volunteer donors were analyzed in this study. The study was undertaken in Chongqing Blood Center, China. Nucleic acid testing (NAT) and ELISA were applied to assess the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema palladium（TP）in plateletpheresis donors. From January 2015 to December 2016, a total of 17,342 plateletpheresis donors in Chongqing blood center were enrolled in this study. Among the 3,642 plateletpheresis donors, 21.00% were younger than 25, followed by 26–35 years group (41.19%), 36-45 years group (22.46%), 46-55 years group (13.97%) and 56-60 years group (1.38%). Replacement and voluntary donors contributed 5,305 (30.59%) and 12,037 (69.41%), respectively. Among all the plateletpheresis donors, 194 (1.12%) were deferred because of seropositive serology. Replacement and voluntary deferred donors comprised 109 (2.05%) and 85 (0.68%), respectively (P＜0.05). Among the deferred donors, 194 (1.12%) were seropositive for HBsAg (0.44%), followed by anti-HCV (0.28%), TP (0.24%) and HIV (0.15%). Prevalence deferred females contributed 67 (1.60%), while males contributed 127 (0.97%) of the deferred cases, respectively (P＜0.05). Deferral rate was highest among 46-55 years group (1.65%) followed by 36-45 years group (1.63%), The other groups were less than 1%. It is necessary to reduce family replacement donors and replace them with regular volunteer donors, and to improve blood donor retention strategies to boost the regular blood donors’ motivating. In addition to increasing and maintaining volunteer supply, it is desirable to keep the deferral rate at a low level, to ensure an adequate and safe blood supply.     

Iron stores in Chinese eligible male plateletpheresis donors

Plateletpheresis donors may become iron deficient, particularly if donating at the maximum suggested interval of every 2 weeks. This study aimed to evaluate iron stores in male Chinese plateletpheresis donors. Serum samples were collected from 445 male plateletpheresis donors and serum ferritin (SF) levels were measured. There were 16 repeat donors (3.6%) with iron deficiency (SF<10 ng/mL), but none was found in first time donors. About 63 (14.2%) had depleted iron stores (SF<30 ng/mL), including two first time donors (0.4%). Repeat donors had lower mean SF levels than the first donors. There was a positive correlation between iron deficiency/depletion prevalence, lower hemoglobin level and number of platelet donations. Donation interval, age and ABO blood groups were not associated with iron status. Iron status needs to be monitored in repeat platepheresis donors and donors with Hb<130 g/L, especially when the number of donations are between 10 and 30. For these individuals, SF measurement and iron supplementation are recommended.     

Effects of frequent multiple plateletpheresis on complete blood count values of blood donors

The use of apheresis technique to collect platelets has rapidly increased in recent years. With an increased demand for plateletpheresis, higher donation frequencies are now observed. The aim of this study is to investigate changes in complete blood count values after frequent multiple plateletpheresis. A total of seventy-four blood donors were selected, from which complete blood count values in the first and the last screening were taken. There were fifty-four high frequency donors(13.0±2.6 plateletpheresis/year) and twenty low frequency donors(6.6±0.5 plateletpheresis/year). The results showed that complete blood count values at the first and last screening after plateletpheresis of both groups were within the normal range, and changes in their WBC, RBC and PLT values were not statistically significant(P>0.05, P>0.05, and P>0.05, respectively). The study suggests that frequent multiple plateletpheresis has no effects on complete blood count, and no adverse effects on blood donors.