title: Behavioral and infectious disease risks in young blood donors: implications for recruitment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recruitment of young donors is critical to expand the donor base and sustain the blood supply. Nevertheless, there is concern that younger blood donors may have a higher risk profile than their older counterparts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of behavioral risks associated with transfusion-transmissible viral infections and the incidence of viral markers were compared between younger and older donors. Behavioral risks included unreported deferrable risks (UDRs) and HIV test seeking estimated from anonymous donor surveys administered in 1993 and 1998. The incidence of HIV, HCV, or HBV was estimated from donors giving at five US blood centers between 1996 and 2000.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Donors younger than 25 years of age were significantly more likely to report a UDR or HIV test seeking than those 25 years or older. ORs comparing donors 18 to 19 and 20 to 24 years of age to those 25 years or older were 2.0 (95% CI, 1.5-2.6) and 1.5 (95% CI, 1.2-1.9) for UDR and 4.5 (95% CI, 3.0-6.9) and 5.5 (95% CI, 4.2-7.1) for test seeking, respectively. Although incidence estimates did not significantly differ between age groups, HIV incidence appeared to be highest in 18- to 19-year-old donors, whereas HBV incidence was highest in 20- to 24-year-old donors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Donors younger than 25 years of age appeared to have a higher behavioral risk profile than older donors. The message not to donate when a behavioral risk is present or for obtaining HIV tests needs to be reinforced in younger donors.
authors: Westat, Rockville, Maryland 20850-2062, USA.
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Damesyn
authors: Simone A
authors: SA
authors: Glynn
authors: George B
authors: GB
authors: Schreiber
authors: Helen E
authors: HE
authors: Ownby
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Bethel
authors: Joy
authors: J
authors: Fridey
authors: Quentin
authors: Q
authors: McMullen
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Garratty
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Busch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010560:Personnel Selection; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking