Whole blood donor deferral rate and characteristics of the Turkish population

Whole blood (WB) donors are deferred for several reasons, either permanently or temporarily. In this retrospective study, we quantified the rate of and reasons for donor deferral among Turkish donors. Computer records of the last 5 years were analysed to quantify the deferral rate and reasons. Deferrals were categorized as temporary short-term (1-56 days), long-term (57-365 days) and multiple years or permanent (more than 365 days). Deferred donors were also analysed according to gender, age and education level. A total of 95 317 persons were admitted for WB donation: 89.1% of them were male donors and 59.9% were in the 30 to 49-year old age category. Rates of deferral for temporary short-term, long-term, permanent or for unknown reasons were 66, 22.5, 10 and 1.5% respectively. Female donors were deferred more frequently than male donors (25.8 vs. 13.3%, P <= 0.0001). The deferral rates were significantly different among the different age groups (P < 0.0001). Donor education level had no effect on the deferral rates (P > 0.05). The main reason for deferral was common cold and/or sore throat or elevated temperature (20.4%) in male donors and low haemoglobin (51.6%) in female donors. Although the three uppermost reasons for deferral in women were identical for all age categories, these varied in the male group (high-risk sex partner for the younger group vs. hypertension and low haemoglobin for the older group). Although permanent and temporary deferral rates are similar between the Turkish population and western countries, leading causes vary widely.