title: Facilitation of blood donation amongst haemochromatosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The standard medical therapy for haemochromatosis is iron removal by regular phlebotomy. Current guidelines suggest that this blood should be made available through national blood services. Here, we describe a pilot facilitating the process of blood donation amongst uncomplicated haemochromatosis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  At a dedicated clinic, patients with uncomplicated haemochromatosis interested in becoming blood donors were offered an information leaflet and self-referral application. Upon receipt, members of the local Blood Service contacted them to confirm eligibility to donate. Data on demographics and clinical characteristics, including HFE (high Fe) genotype, co-morbidities, alcohol consumption and body mass index, were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Since establishing the clinic, 140 patients have attended (93 male) with median age 57. Most (n = 125; 89%) had uncomplicated haemochromatosis. Of these, 55 were potentially eligible blood donors. Amongst those eligible, there are now 29 regular blood donors, including 23 new.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an interest and willingness to donate blood through the Blood Service amongst uncomplicated haemochromatosis patients undergoing therapeutic phlebotomy. Since the introduction of this facilitation process, we have significantly increased the number of regular donors amongst this cohort. If this process was to be replicated more widely across the UK, this could have a significant impact on the blood donor pool.
authors: Liver Transplant Unit, Freeman Hospital.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Marrow
authors: NHS Blood and Transplant.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Clarkson
authors: NHS Blood and Transplant.
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Chapman
authors: Liver Transplant Unit, Freeman Hospital.|Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle, UK.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Masson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D046148:Donor Selection / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D018962:Phlebotomy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: blood transfusion; haemochromatosis; practice improvement