Blood Donation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Donation, including details on blood types, blood group, leukemia, red cross.

Blood donors with positive direct antiglobulin tests are at increased risk for cancer.

Rottenberg Y, Yahalom V, Shinar E, Barchana M, Adler B, Paltiel O

Department of Oncology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. ryakir@hadassah.org.il

BACKGROUND: Positive direct antiglobulin tests (DATs) have been associated with both autoimmunity and lymphoproliferative disorders. However, it is unknown whether DAT+ in healthy blood donors is associated with an increased risk of malignancies. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In the current study, all blood donors with DAT+ samples were identified during the years 1999 through 2003 through the Magen David Adom National Blood Services in Israel. This study compared the risk of cancer among 586 DAT+ and 2344 DAT- donors who were matched according to sex, age, and year of donation. The risk of cancer in DAT+ donors was also compared to expected rates in the general Israeli population. Cancer was ascertained through the Israel Cancer Registry. RESULTS: Malignancies occurred among 17 (2.9%) of the DAT+ and 27 (1.2%) of the DAT- blood donors; of these, 3 donors in the DAT+ group were diagnosed with hematopoietic malignancies within 12 months of their donation. Even after excluding these early cases, the relative risk of developing cancer was 2.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-4.10) comparing DAT+ with DAT- donors, while the relative risk for hematopoietic cancer was 8.3 (95% CI, 1.5-43.2). Comparing DAT+ blood donors with the general population, the standardized incidence ratios (observed/expected cases) were elevated at 2.11 (95% CI, 1.15-3.54; p = 0.16) for all malignancies and 8.03 (95% CI, 2.2-20.6; p = 0.003) for hematologic malignancies. CONCLUSION: There is evidence of a significantly increased risk of cancer, especially hematologic malignancies, among blood donors with a positive DAT even within a short follow-up period.

Published 11 May 2009 in Transfusion, 49(5): 838-42.
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Articles on Blood Donation published 11 May 2009:

Blood donor deferral in Minas Gerais State, Brazil: blood centers as sentinels of urban population health.   Transfusion, 49(5): 851-7.

BACKGROUND: Shortage of safe blood donors is frequent and it is important to understand the causes of deferral of potential donors, who reside mainly in urban areas, to improve recruitment campaigns aiming at the quality/availability of donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In Minas Gerais State, Brazil, Hemominas Foundation collects, analyzes, and distributes more than 90 percent of blood. Blood is collected in 19 centers in cities. In 2006, data from 335,109 attempts to donate were analyzed. ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Effects of applied muscle tension on the likelihood of blood donor return.   Transfusion, 49(5): 858-62.

BACKGROUND: Blood donation-related symptoms such as dizziness and fainting are unpleasant for the donor and a significant disincentive for repeat donation. The muscle tensing technique of applied muscle tension reduced symptoms in several studies. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Follow-up data from a randomized controlled trial of different components of applied tension were obtained. The number of subsequent blood donations in a 2-year period was determined for 1059 of 1209 donors originally ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Social support attenuates presyncopal reactions to blood donation.   Transfusion, 49(5): 843-50.

BACKGROUND: The experience of unpleasant blood donation reactions (e.g., dizziness, nausea, and fainting) has been linked to negative attitudes about donation and decreased likelihood of repeat donation. Consequently, interventions to reduce the adverse effects of blood donation are important and likely to increase donor retention. Based on laboratory studies suggesting that social support attenuates both physical and psychological responses to stress, the present study hypothesized that the ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Blood Donation published 10 April 2009:

Adverse events among 2408 unrelated donors of peripheral blood stem cells: results of a prospective trial from the National Marrow Donor Program.   Blood, 113(15): 3604-11.

Limited data are available describing donor adverse events (AEs) associated with filgrastim mobilized peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collections in unrelated volunteers. We report results in 2408 unrelated PBSC donors prospectively evaluated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) between 1999 and 2004. Female donors had higher rates of AEs, requiring central line placement more often (17% vs 4%, P< .001), experiencing more apheresis-related AEs (20% vs 7%, P< .001), more bone pain ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Blood Donation published 1 April 2009:

Anemia screening in potential female blood donors: comparison of two different quantitative methods.   Transfusion, 49(4): 662-8.

BACKGROUND: Anemia screening before blood donation requires an accurate, quick, practical, and easy method with minimal discomfort for the donors. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of two quantitative methods of anemia screening: the HemoCue 201(+) (Aktiebolaget Leo Diagnostics) hemoglobin (Hb) and microhematocrit (micro-Hct) tests. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Two blood samples of a single fingerstick were obtained from 969 unselected potential female donors to determine the Hb by ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Reassessment of deferrals for tattooing and piercing.   Transfusion, 49(4): 648-54.

BACKGROUND: In August 2005, the Canadian Blood Services decreased the deferral period for tattooing and ear or body piercing from 12 to 6 months. This study assessed the impact of this change on blood safety and availability. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The prevalence of these activities was assessed on an anonymous mail-out survey of 40,000 recent donors. Transmissible disease (TD) marker rates were calculated using the National Epidemiology Donor Database. A case-control study was performed ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Evidence of acute primary occult hepatitis B virus infection in an Italian repeat blood donor.   Transfusion, 49(4): 757-64.

BACKGROUND: Preliminary evidence of cases of acute occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) has been recently reported in the literature. Furthermore, OBI definition has been the object of an international consensus conference. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A case of acute primary OBI was identified and followed up in a repeat female blood donor using a highly sensitive nucleic acid test (NAT; Procleix Ultrio on Tigris, Chiron). Genotyping and sequencing of virus isolates from donor and ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Current value of serologic test for syphilis as a surrogate marker for blood-borne viral infections among blood donors in the United States.   Transfusion, 49(4): 655-61.

BACKGROUND: Serologic screening for syphilis has been justified in part as a surrogate marker for infections caused by other pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study assessed the current surrogate value of the test. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Testing results for blood donors with the American Red Cross Blood Services between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2007, were analyzed. All donations were tested according to standard procedures for markers of HIV, hepatitis B ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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