Analysis of the most common reasons for voluntary blood donor deferral in Southeast Serbia

Introduction/Aim. Criteria for the selection of blood donors (BDs) and criteria for permanent or temporary postponement of blood donation have a vital role in the safety of blood transfusion. It is a well-known fact that the BDs deferral has a negative effect on the return of both first and regular donors. The aim of the study was to analyze the frequency of deferral and the reasons for deferral of voluntary BDs with an emphasis on temporary deferrals due to low Hb levels, in order to identify temporarily deferred donors and advise them properly in order to increase the number of voluntary donors. Methods. The study included voluntary BDs from January 1 to December 31, 2023. A total of 2,322 rejected voluntary BDs were included in the study. Donors of both sexes, aged between 18 and 65 years, were included. Results. The overall prevalence of deferred donors was 4.85%. The most common reason for temporary deferral was low hemoglobin (Hb) level, identified in 1,002 blood donors (43.15%). Other reasons included low blood pressure (265 donors, 11.41%), medication use (172 donors, 7.41%), recent blood donation (133 donors, 5.73%), high blood pressure (99 donors, 4.26%), thyroid dysfunction (96 donors, 4.13%), and recent surgical intervention (81 donors, 3.49%). Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that implementing parameters that more accurately reflect iron status would help ensure donor safety. To protect the health of blood donors (BDs) and maintain an adequate blood supply, appropriate procedures should be applied, which may include temporary iron supplementation.