title: First-time whole blood donation: A critical step for donor safety and retention on first three donations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Whole blood donation is generally safe although vasovagal reactions can occur (approximately 1%). Risk factors are well known and prevention measures are shown as efficient. This study evaluates the impact of the donor's retention in relation to the occurrence of vasovagal reaction for the first three blood donations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study of data collected over three years evaluated the impact of classical risk factors and provided a model including the best combination of covariates predicting VVR. The impact of a reaction at first donation on return rate and complication until the third donation was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data (523,471 donations) confirmed the classical risk factors (gender, age, donor status and relative blood volume). After stepwise variable selection, donor status, relative blood volume and their interaction were the only remaining covariates in the model. Of 33,279 first-time donors monitored over a period of at least 15 months, the first three donations were followed. Data emphasised the impact of complication at first donation. The return rate for a second donation was reduced and the risk of vasovagal reaction was increased at least until the third donation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First-time donation is a crucial step in the donors' career. Donors who experienced a reaction at their first donation have a lower return rate for a second donation and a higher risk of vasovagal reaction at least until the third donation. Prevention measures have to be processed to improve donor retention and provide blood banks with adequate blood supply.
authors.affiliation: Service du sang, Croix-Rouge de Belgique, Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: philippe.gillet@croix-rouge.be.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gillet
authors.affiliation: Service du sang, Croix-Rouge de Belgique, Namur, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rapaille
authors.affiliation: Institut de statistique, biostatistique et sciences actuarielles, université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benoît
authors.affiliation: Institut de statistique, biostatistique et sciences actuarielles, université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceinos
authors.affiliation: Service du sang, Croix-Rouge de Belgique, Namur, Belgium.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.affiliation: Service du sang, Croix-Rouge de Belgique, Namur, Belgium.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Bouyalsky
authors.affiliation: Institut de statistique, biostatistique et sciences actuarielles, université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Govaerts
authors.affiliation: Service du sang, Croix-Rouge de Belgique, Namur, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambermont
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001810:Blood Volume; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Blood donors; Donneurs de sang; Donors’ retention; Facteurs de risque; Risk factors; Réaction vasovagale; Rétention des donneurs; Vasovagal reaction