title: The health implications of low hemoglobin deferral in infrequent blood donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The causes of anemia in infrequent blood donors deferred for low hemoglobin (Hb) are not well known. We sought to assess this via surveys of infrequent, non-menstruating deferred blood donors at two institutions, BloodCenter of Wisconsin and Puget Sound Blood Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men at least 18 years of age and women at least 50 years of age who were deferred for low Hb (≤12.5 g/dL), had not more than one donation in the year prior to deferral, and did not successfully donate in the 3 months after their deferral were surveyed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total response rate was 380 donors or 34% of those contacted. Of the respondents, 141 had sought medical advice about their low Hb. Of these, 90 were confirmed to have anemia and 13 reported serious disease requiring medical intervention, including mantle cell lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A small but concerning number of infrequent blood donors deferred for low Hb have an underlying illness that is severe and would benefit from medical attention. Donors deferred for low Hb who have a high risk for serious underlying illness should be provided targeted educational information advising them to seek additional medical care.
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences and Blood Research Institutes, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Heartland Blood Center, Aurora, Illinois; Department of Pathology, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Annen
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delaney
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leitch
authors.forename: Alan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Mast
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000592:standards; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D057220:Health Literacy; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins
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