Trends of Donor Population and Donor Deferral during the Past Eleven Years (1995~2005)

Kwon, So Yong; Cho, Nam Sun; Park, Kyoung Un; Lim, Young Ae

Abstract

BACKGROUND
With the rapid aging of the Korean population and the steady decrease in the donor population during the past few years, there is a need for measures to ensure balance between blood demand and supply. The trends of the donor population and donor deferral during the past eleven years (1995~2005) were examined to obtain basic data to be used in donor management policy-making.
METHODS
Data on the donor population, presenting donors, deferred donors and the reasons for deferral were examined by searching the Blood Information Management System (BIMS) and Annual reports of the Korean Red Cross.
RESULTS
The number of presenting donors increased until 2003. However, the actual number of eligible donors has been decreasing since 1999 due to the increase in donor deferral. By enforcing donor eligibility criteria, the donor deferral rate in 1998 increased by 75.2% compared with the previous year, and the deferral rate was 21% in 2005. A low blood specific gravity (SG) was the most common reason for deferral, and more than 90% of those deferred due to a low SG were women.
CONCLUSION
In order to assure an adequate donor base, policies should not only target donor recruitment but also the management of deferred donors. The adequacy of currently applied donor eligibility criteria should be reevaluated, and deferred donors should be counseled about their reason for deferral in order to encourage donation. Furthermore, the hemoglobin criteria for women should be reconsidered.