title: Demographic differences in estimated blood donor eligibility prevalence in the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of blood donor eligibility factors has a major impact on the availability of blood donors and thus the blood supply in the United States. The prevalence of these factors may differ between demographic groups and thus help explain the differences in blood donation rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population (18-69 years old who were African American [AA], white, or Hispanic) was 185,073,489. Forty eligibility factors determined by US Food and Drug Administration's Code of Federal Regulations and AABB Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services were used to calculate whole blood donation eligibility rates. Eligibility data were obtained from the 2007 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, US Census Bureau, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Eligibility rates were determined by race/ethnicity, sex, and age groups (18-39 and 40-69 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2007 to 2008, 122 million Americans (65.9% of the study population and 41.0% of the total US population) were estimated to be eligible to donate blood in the United States. Significant differences in eligibility rates by demographic characterizers were determined (p < 0.001): AAs (36.5%), whites (46.4%), and Hispanics (40.7%); males (45.4%) and females (42.7%); individuals 18 to 39 years old (35.8%); and individuals 40 to 69 years old (32.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AAs were significantly less eligible to donate blood than whites and Hispanics. Disparities in donor eligibility exist by race/ethnicity, sex, and age groups.
authors: Center for Transfusion and Cellular Therapies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors: Adelbert B
authors: AB
authors: James
authors: Christopher D
authors: CD
authors: Hillyer
authors: Beth H
authors: BH
authors: Shaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult