title: The effect of short-term, temporary deferral on future blood donation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most blood donor deferrals are temporary and short-term. The effect of short-term, temporary deferral (STTD) on blood donor return rates and subsequent blood donations is an important issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Donors given STTDs during the first 3 months of 1993 were computer-matched with nondeferred donors on the basis of age, sex, and donation date. Computer records were evaluated during the next 4.25 years (4/93-6/97) to determine donor return rates and subsequent blood donations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common reasons STTD were low hemoglobin (46%), colds and/or sore throats (19%), and elevated temperature (10%). Nondeferred donors were 29 percent more likely than donors with STTD to return over the next 4.25 years (80% vs. 62%), and nondeferred donors donated 81 percent more whole blood units (13,798 vs. 7,615) over the same period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that STTD have a very negative impact on blood donor return rates and subsequent blood donations. Actions to alleviate these negative effects are indicated.
authors.affiliation: American Red Cross Blood Services, Southeastern Michigan Region, Detroit, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Halperin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baetens
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D006801:Humans