A study on the pattern of donor deferral for plateletpheresis in a tertiary care hospital in Southern India and measures to decrease them

Abstract

Background: Collection of platelets by plateletpheresis is a relatively simple, safe and important adjunct to blood bank inventory for provision of platelet components. Recruitment of plateletpheresis donors is challenging since the selection criteria are more stringent compared to whole blood donation resulting in higher deferrals. The aim of the study is to assess the causes of deferral among donors who registered for plateletpheresis so as to ascertain the preventable and temporary deferrals for reinduction of these donors.
Materials and Methods: Donor deferral data was collected retrospectively for donors who registered in the period of July 2022 – June 2023 in a tertiary care hospital attached blood center. The donors were selected or deferred based on the guidelines issued under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the rules therein with guide transfusion services in India.
Results: Of the 759 donors registered for the plateletpheresis procedure during the study period,235 (30.96%%) donors donated and 524(69.04%) donors were deferred. Among 524 deferred donors, the reason for deferral was unavailable in 44 donors while 245 (51%) donors were deferred due to lack ofsuitable venous access with 133 (54%) of them being deferred due to single vein availability. Temporary deferrals were seen in171 (36%) donors of which low platelet count was the most common (89 donors). Permanent deferrals were done in 16 donors where previous sensitization history was the cause in 9 donors.
Conclusion: Donor deferrals diminishthe donor pool and demotivate the donors from further donations. While some factors like lack of adequate venous access or seroreactivity cannot be altered, the conversion of replacement donors to a voluntary donor pool can help in overcoming shortages. The use of Information, education and communication sessions to increase social awareness may substantially decrease the deferral rates. Further, training and bolstering confidence in phlebotomists to collect platelets from donors with single vein can increase the donor pool.