Iron status among blood donors deferred due to low haemoglobin level

Mirjana Kovač; Bojana Erić; Jelena  Stojneva Istatkov; Vojislav Lukić; Ana Milić; Dragana Vukičević; Dušan  Orlić; Branko Tomić

doi:10.2298/VSP190327063K

Mirjana Kovač University of Belgrade, Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Bojana Erić University of Belgrade, Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Stojneva Istatkov University of Belgrade, Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Vojislav Lukić University of Belgrade, Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Ana Milić University of Belgrade, Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Dragana Vukičević University of Belgrade, Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Dušan Orlić University of Belgrade, Blood Transfusion Institute of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Branko Tomić University of Belgrade, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, Belgrade, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP190327063K

Keywords: blood donors, hemoglobins, iron, ferritin, clinical laboratory techniques

Abstract

Background/Aim. Haemoglobin (Hb) determination is a routine part of the blood donor selection process. Previously reported studies have revealed that iron deficiency is common in frequent donors. This prospective investigation was aimed at examining iron status among blood donors with low circulating Hb and evaluating correlation between Hb values determined by capillary methods and those obtained by reference method from venous blood count (BC), as well as ferritin level. Methods. Between February 2017 and December 2018, 200 consecutively recruited regular blood donors with low Hb, aged 19 to 64 years (median 39), were included. Hb level was determined using the copper sulphate method, the HemoCue capillary method, and also from venous blood within the complete blood count (CBC) test. Plasma ferritin was determined turbidimetrically. Results. In 42.7% of men and 57.3% of women, ferritin concentration was low (p = 0.008). The relative numbers of males and females, with levels < 12 μg/L (p = 0.023) or > 50 μg/L (p = 0.022), differed. Comparison of the values obtained with the capillary methods with reference Hb levels obtained from the CBC test showed that the copper sulphate procedure gave false fails in 10.5% of cases (p < 0.001). Hb values from HemoCue were significantly correlated with Hb values from the CBC test, but no correlation was observed between ferritin levels and Hb levels determined by both capillary method. Conclusion. Low ferritin was observed in 51.5% of Serbian blood donors deferred due to low Hb. Based on our results, the determination of the algorithm in the iron deficiency detection is necessary, while the capillary method (HemoCue) represents a more convenient method for Hb testing prior to blood donation.

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