title: Adverse reactions in whole blood donors: an Indian scenario.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whole blood donation is generally considered to be a safe procedure, but occasionally adverse reactions of varying severity may occur during or at the end of the collection. The aim of the study was to estimate the frequency and type of adverse events occurring during blood donation and to assess the practices which would help to minimise them.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective single-centre study was conducted from June 2007 to November 2009 at a regional blood transfusion centre. All whole blood donations made at the centre were analysed. All adverse events occurring during or at the end of donation were noted using a standardised format.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 113 adverse events were reported in relation to 19,045 donations, resulting in an overall adverse event rate of 0.6%, that is, an incidence of 1 in every 166 donations. Presyncopal symptoms, in other words vasovagal reactions of mild intensity, were the most commonly observed adverse reactions and accounted for approximately 70% of all adverse reactions noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only 0.6% of blood donations were complicated by adverse events and most of these events were presyncopal symptoms. Our study reinforces the fact that blood donation is a very safe procedure which could be made even more event-free by following certain friendly, reassuring and tactful practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Chintamani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Meenu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pujani
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pahuja
authors.forename: Manjula
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology