title: Adverse Reactions in Allogeneic Blood Donors: A Tertiary Care Experience from a Developing Country.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fragmented blood transfusion services along with an unmotivated blood donation culture often leads to blood shortage. Donor retention is crucial to meet the increasing blood demand, and adverse donor reactions have a negative impact on donor return. The aim of this study was to estimate adverse donor reactions and identify any demographic association.  .
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study between January 2011 and December 2013. A total of 41,759 healthy donors were enrolled. Professionally trained donor attendants drew blood and all donors were observed during and following donation for possible adverse events for 20 minutes. Blood donors were asked to report if they suffered from any delayed adverse consequences.  .
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 41,759 blood donors, 537 (1.3%) experienced adverse reactions. The incidence was one in every 78 donations. The mean age of donors who experienced adverse events was 26.0±6.8 years, and all were male. Out of 537 donors, 429 (80%) developed vasovagal reaction (VVR), 133 (25%) had nausea, 63 (12%) fainted, 35 (6%) developed hyperventilation, 9 (2%) had delayed syncope, and 9 (2%) developed hematoma. Arterial prick, nerve injury, cardiac arrest, and seizures were not observed. Donors aged less than < 30 years and weighing < 70 kg were significantly associated with VVR, hyperventilation, and nausea (p < 0.005). Undergraduates and Urdu speaking donors also had a significant association with fainting and nausea, respectively (p < 0.05).  .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of adverse events was low at our tertiary center. A VVR was the predominant adverse reaction and was associated with age and weight. Our study highlights the importance of these parameters in the donation process. A well-trained and experienced phlebotomist and pre-evaluation counseling of blood donors could further minimize the adverse reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Blood Bank, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sadia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Blood Bank, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad Amjad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Blood Bank, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Mohammed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Irfan
authors.affiliation: Liaquat National Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Ijlal
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Liaquat National Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syeda Faiza
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Hasan
keywords: Adverse Effects; Blood Donors; Syncope, Vasovagal; Vasovagal Reaction