Adverse effects in blood donors after whole-blood donation: a study of 1000 blood donors interviewed 3 weeks after whole-blood donation.
BACKGROUND
There are no reports in the transfusion medicine literature that describe adverse reactions and donor arm injuries after whole-blood donation based on solicited information.


METHODS
The present study solicited adverse reaction and donor arm injury information from 1000 randomly selected whole-blood donors approximately 3 weeks after the whole-blood donation. Two 16-gauge phlebotomy needles in use were also compared.


RESULTS
Thirty-six percent of the donors had one or more adverse effects (AEs). The most common systemic AEs were fatigue (7.8%), vasovagal symptoms (5.3%), and nausea and vomiting (1.1%). The most common arm findings were bruise (22.7%), arm soreness (10.0%), and hematoma (1.7%). Men were half as likely as women to have an AE (23% AE vs. 48% AE, p < 0.0001). Repeat blood donors had fewer AEs than first-time blood donors (36% AE vs. 47% AE, p < 0.007), and African-American donors had numbers of AEs similar to those of Caucasian donors (31% AE vs. 38% AE, p = 0.30). The two phlebotomy needles did not differ in causing blood donor AEs.


CONCLUSIONS
AEs after donation and complaints may be more common than previously thought. The postdonation interview is a good tool for defining the blood donor's experience. It can also be used to evaluate and potentially improve blood donor safety and comfort.
Newman
Bruce H
BH
American Red Cross Blood Services, SE Michigan Region, 100 Mack, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. newmanb@usa.redcross.org
Pichette
Shawn
S
Pichette
Dena
D
Dzaka
Ema
E
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001132:Arm; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D044383:Black People; D001782:Blood Donors; D003288:Contusions / Q000209:etiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D044465:White People