Haemoglobin ranges of blood donors rejected for low haemoglobin at a blood centre of a tertiary care hospital in South India

Background According to Indian blood banking regulations the haemoglobin cutoff of blood donation for both males and females is more than or equal to 12.5 gm percentage. This study analyses the haemoglobin profile of donors deferred due to low haemoglobin, and estimates the proportion of donors with haemoglobin between 12.0 and 12.4gm percentage to assess the impact of the acceptance threshold of 12.5gm percentage as against 12gm percentage on our donor base. Materials and Methods All donors screened between May 2011 and July 2011 was included in the study. The minimal haemoglobin cutoff for donor selection was set at 12.5 gm percentage of both male and female donors. Screening for haemoglobin cut off was performed on venous blood using the copper sulphate specific gravity method. All donors deferred using this method had their haemoglobin rechecked on either the cyanmethaemoglobin method or Coulter counter DXH800. Results A total of 9793 donors was screened. Total 3760 (38 percentage) donors were deferred, of which 1113 (30 percentage) were females and 2647 (70 percentage) were males. Of those deferred, 1082 of 3760 (29 percentage) were deferred due to haemoglobin levels of less than12.5gm percentage. Of the 1082 donors deferred due to hemoglobin ess than12. 5gms percentage, 674 (62.29 percentage) were females and 408 (37.70 percentage) were males. Among these 1082 donors, 155 (1.6 percentage of the total donors) donors had hemoglobin between 12 and 12.40gm percentage of which 96 (9.0 percentage of total female donor deferred) were females and 59 (2.0 percentage of total male donors deferred) were males. Interpretation and conclusion Our study shows that inclusion of donors with Hb levels greater than 12 gm percentage would result in a 1.6 percentage increase in the total donor pool. If more female donors contribute to the pool, then the increase in numbers recruited are likely to be greater by 9 percentage. Change in policy regarding hemoglobin cutoff to 12gm percentage will result in a proportionately larger number of donors entering the pool.