Allogeneic & Autologous Blood Donor Selection

Question 1

Timeframe in which facilities must make reasonable attempts to notify donor of any test results that disqualify them from continued donation.

Answer 1

8 weeks

Question 2

Blood pressure requirements for eligibility

Answer 2

Systolic: 90-180 mm Hg
Diastolic: 50-100 mm Hg
Rates outside range can be approved by physician ONLY

Question 3

Pulse rate requirement for eligibility

Answer 3

50-100 beats per minute without irregularities in rhythm

Rates outside range can be approved by physician ONLY

Question 4

If donor’s hemoglobin level is 12.5g/dL, a 500-mL whole blood collection is expected to yield how many grams of hemoglobin?

Answer 4

62.5 g

[hemoglobin (g/dL) * collection (mL)] / 100

Question 5

AABB standards requires apheresis RBC units to be prepared using a method known to ensure a final component containing a mean hemoglobin level of –g and –% of the units sampled containing –g of hemoglobin.

Answer 5

mean hemoglobin of 60 g

95% of units sampled containing >50 g of hemoglobin

Question 6

Hemoglobin/hematocrit requirement for eligibility

Answer 6

Male donors: Hgb = 13.0 g/dL or hct = 39%

Female donors: Hgb = 12.5g/dL or hct = 38%

Question 7

Most common reason for blood donor deferral at most donor centers?

Answer 7

Low hemoglobin/hematocrit

Question 8

If additional steps are followed to ensure the health of the donor, what range of hemoglobin/hematocrit can be collected from females?

Answer 8

Hgb = 12.0-12.5 g/dL
Hct = 36-38%

Question 9

When can an abbreviated DHQ be used?

Answer 9

For frequent donors who qualify by successfully completing the full-length DHQ on at least two separate occasions, with one or more donations within the past 6 months

Question 10

Deferral for Cancer

Answer 10

Blood center’s medical director has considerable flexibility in determining eligibility

• almost all accept donors with localized cancers after treatment with no deferral (ex: skin cancer, CIS - that have been fully excised & cured)
• most defer those with history of solid organ or nonhematologic malignancy for defined period after completion of treatment, provided that the donor remains symptom free without recurrence; deferral period can be 1-5 years
• varies with hematologic malignancies & invasive melanoma

Question 11

Deferral for Bleeding Conditions or Blood Diseases

Answer 11

Individuals with hemophilia, clotting factor deficiencies or clinically significant inhibitors - all of which are manifested by variable bleeding tendencies - require deferral for both donor safety and product potency considerations *** except FXII deficiency
vWF disease typically deferred but if mild and no bleeding history may donate red cells

Question 12

Deferral for Heart and Lung Conditions

Answer 12

Criteria for accepting donors with history of heart or lung disease are defined by each blood center
Accept donors who are asymptomatic on the day of donation, have been medically evaluated, and report no functional impairment of limitations on daily activity after being diagnosed or treated for cardiac disease
Some advice individuals to wait at least 6 months after cardiac event, procedure or diagnosis before donation (if asymptomatic and able to perform usual daily activities during this interval)
Indications for deferral: recent symptoms, limitations on activity or functional impairment resulting from unstable angina, recent MI, left main coronary disease, ongoing CHF or severe aortic stenosis.

Question 13

Deferral for Medications - 5 broad categories

Answer 13

1) Potent teratogens that pose potential harm to unborn children
2-3) Antibiotics or antimicrobials to treat an infection that could be transmitted through blood transfusion (excluding preventive antibiotics for acne, rosacea, and other chronic conditions with a low risk of bacteremia)
4-5) Anticoagulants & antiplatelet agents that affect component potency (plasma or platelet components only)

Question 14

Criteria for autologous donations

Answer 14

1) prescription or order from the patient’s physician
2) minimum hemoglobin concentration of 11 g/dL or hematocrit of 33%
3) collection at least 72 hours before the anticipated surgery or transfusion
4) absence of conditions presenting a risk of bactermia
4) use only for the donor-patient if labeled “autologous use only”

Question 15

Contraindications to autologous blood donation

Answer 15

Defined by blood center and may include:

1) unstable angina
2) recent MI or stroke
3) significant cardiac or pulmonary disease with ongoing symptoms but without an evaluation by the treating physician
4) untreated aortic stenosis

Question 16

Who are at risk for possible negative health effects of low iron levels (even in absence of anemia)?

Answer 16

Teens, females of childbearing potential and who are repeat donors (of either gender)