title: Serum ferritin in plateletpheresis and whole blood donors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We performed a prospective analysis of iron status in plateletpheresis donors, using whole blood donors as a control group, to assess the haematinic effects of regular anti-coagulated extracorporeal circulation and platelet collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ferritin levels were measured in samples from 31 regular male plateletpheresis donors and from 14 first time male whole blood donors, immediately before and immediately after donation, and immediately before the next donation. An additional 33 regular male plateletpheresis donors and 17 first time male whole blood donors had serum ferritin levels checked predonation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male plateletpheresis donors had a statistically significant fall in serum ferritin after donation (P = 0.005)*. In addition, male platelet donors had significantly lower serum ferritin levels than first time male blood donors: ferritin <20 µg/L was found in 6/64 (9%) of regular platelet donors and 1/31 (3%) of first time blood donors (P < 0.001)*.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our studies support the value of serum ferritin measurement in apheresis donor management.
authors.affiliation: Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Munster Regional Transfusion Centre, St. Finbarr's Hospital, Douglas Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duggan
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Statistics, University College Cork, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Munster Regional Transfusion Centre, St. Finbarr's Hospital, Douglas Road, Cork, Ireland; School of Medicine, University College Cork, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Joan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.affiliation: Irish Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Centre, James's Street, Dublin 8, Ireland; School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Electronic address: nmd@indigo.ie.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010983:Plateletpheresis
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins
keywords: Ferritin; Iron; Iron deficiency anaemia