Blood donor deferral due to anemia

Introduction: In India minimum required hemoglobin for blood donation is 12.5 gm%. Blood donation deferrals due to anemia are very common and it decreases availability of precious blood donor for the blood bank. Aim and Objective: To provide baseline information regarding the prevalence and spectrum of anemia in retrospective blood donors to help plan a future strategy for donor management. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective, single center-based study assessing the blood donor deferral due to anemia was carried out in Blood Bank, P.D.U. Medical College and Hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat (India). During the study period (January ‘2012 to December ‘2014), 34,435 retrospective blood donors were screened. Hemoglobin estimation was performed by Copper sulfate specific gravity method. Result and Conclusion: In our study prevalence of anemia in blood donors is 2.8% and deferral due to anemia is 16%.